"Ukraine requests clarity on Pentagon's halted US arms shipment"

Ukraine Seeks Clarity as US Announces Resumption of Weapons Deliveries

Ukraine has stated it is working to confirm details after Donald Trump announced late Monday that U.S. weapons deliveries would resume, just days after the Pentagon halted them. Kyiv emphasized the need for "predictability" in its military support from Washington.

The Ukrainian defense ministry said in a Tuesday statement that it had not yet received official confirmation of the policy shift, stressing that "stability, continuity, and predictability" in arms supplies—particularly for air defense systems—were critically important.

The statement added, "We appreciate the United States for its support and value the efforts of American partners in working toward lasting peace."

Speaking at the White House, Trump confirmed additional weapons would be sent to Ukraine, describing his dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We’ll provide more weapons to help them defend themselves. They’re facing heavy attacks," Trump said during a meeting with U.S. and Israeli officials.

His comments followed a seven-hour Russian aerial assault on Kyiv on Thursday, which occurred shortly after Trump and Putin spoke by phone. On Monday, Trump specified that the U.S. would prioritize sending "defensive weapons," calling the conflict "a terrible situation with so many lives lost."

The Pentagon confirmed that "additional defensive weapons" would soon be shipped to Ukraine "under President Trump’s orders." The decision reverses last week’s pause, which came after Trump discussed the matter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who later described the call as their most productive to date.

The Kremlin stated Tuesday that it would require time to assess the specifics of the new U.S. weapons shipments to Kyiv.

Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth halted deliveries of air defense interceptors and other precision weapons, including a shipment near the Polish-Ukrainian border, citing dwindling Pentagon stockpiles.

Reports suggest Hegseth acted without broader consultation. The move drew criticism from Kyiv and surprise from congressional Democrats, who disputed claims of insufficient U.S. weapons reserves. Ukraine’s European allies also expressed frustration.

The aid package, authorized by Congress last year under the previous administration, included 30 Patriot missiles, 8,400 artillery rounds, 142 Hellfire missiles, and 252 guided rocket system munitions.

Ukraine has been facing shortages of Patriot interceptors, vital for countering Russian ballistic missiles. Since Trump’s return to office, Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities have intensified.

On Sunday, a Russian drone attack on Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia killed one person and injured over 60 civilians. Last week’s assault on Kyiv caused significant destruction.