News - Middle East: Ukraine has expressed concern over the United States’ decision to halt some shipments of critical weapons.

Citing three people familiar with the decision, Reuters reported on Wednesday that the Pentagon has recently paused the shipment of 30 Patriot air defense missiles and nearly 8,500 155mm artillery shells, over 250 precision GMLRS missiles and 142 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles to Kiev.

Kiev warned that the move would weaken its ability in the war against Russia, and summoned the acting US envoy to the country to highlight the importance of military aid from Washington continuing.

"The Ukrainian side emphasized that any delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities will only encourage the aggressor to continue the war and terror, rather than seek peace," Ukraine's foreign ministry said.

The Ukrainian defense ministry said it had not been officially notified of the move and was seeking clarity from its American counterparts.

"This decision was made to put America's interests first" following a Department of Defense review of military support around the world, said the White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly.

A Ukrainian source familiar with the situation described the decision as a "total shock."

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that "in the short term, Ukraine cannot do without all the support it can get" when it comes to ammunition and air defense systems.

Since the Ukraine war began in February 2022, the US has provided Ukraine with nearly $86 billion in military assistance, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

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