KYIV: Ukraine appealed to the United States for clarity on Wednesday after it was caught off guard by a White House announcement that Washington was halting some arms shipments to the war-battered country.

The Ukrainian defence ministry, which is deeply dependent on US arms, said it had not been notified about the reduction in aid announced one day earlier. Moscow revelled in the decision, saying it could bring the end of the war closer. Any slow down in US support could harm Kyiv’s ability to fend off escalating Russian aerial bombardments or frontline gains.

Kyiv has long feared halts to US aid after Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, having criticised the tens of billions of dollars in support and weapons sent by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

“It will be even more scary, even more painful, and even more civilians will suffer,” Kyiv resident Yevgenia Prysiazhna said, referring to an uptick in overnight drone and missile attacks on Ukraine. “I really hope that this is a temporary decision,” the communications manager said.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2025