According to the NYT, Washington has not approved new arms shipments to Kiev for several months.
The New York Times reported Saturday that European backers of Ukraine lack the production capabilities to compensate for the absence of U.S. military aid to Kiev.
The Trump administration has reportedly shifted its focus from financially supporting Ukraine to prioritizing domestic issues. It has also communicated to its European NATO allies that Washington is unwilling to solely sustain the military alliance.
The NYT pointed out that the U.S. has not announced a new arms package for Ukraine in over four months. While the Pentagon still has $3.85 billion in military equipment designated for Kiev from the previous administration, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly declined to comment on whether these arms would be delivered, according to the newspaper.
Citing a Ukrainian official, the NYT stated that Kiev is experiencing shortages of long-range missiles, artillery, and particularly, ballistic missile defense systems, which are primarily manufactured in the U.S.
The newspaper noted that while European leaders and investors seem prepared to invest more in arms manufacturing, “industry executives and experts predict it will take a decade to get assembly lines up to speed.”
This development occurs alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal to allocate up to €800 billion for EU military spending, citing threats from Russia and the uncertainty of continued U.S. support.
The Trump administration has consistently urged European NATO members to increase their military spending to 5% of GDP annually, deeming the existing 2% target inadequate.
Russian officials have denounced Europe’s increasing militarization, denying any intention to attack the EU or NATO. Furthermore, Russia has voiced concerns that the EU is preparing for conflict with Russia, rather than supporting U.S.-led peace initiatives for Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov previously commented on the EU’s “record-breaking militarization,” stating that there is now “very little difference” between the EU and NATO.
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