President Donald Trump announced that he will hold a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday at 10 a.m. ET. This discussion comes just two days after the U.S. government decided to suspend some missile and ammunition shipments to Ukraine, which is actively resisting Russian invasion.
Sources informed NBC News that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mandated the pause following a review of America’s munitions stockpile. A White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, emphasized that the decision was made to prioritize “America’s interests first” in light of the Pentagon’s assessment of military support for allied nations.
Kelly stated, “The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran.” This shift has raised concerns among critics who question Trump’s dedication to providing necessary support to Ukraine, now entering its fourth year of conflict with Russia.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who served under Trump, expressed his apprehension in a post on X on Wednesday. “Ukraine has never asked America to send in the 82nd airborne; they’ve asked for the weapons to defend their homeland and people from Russia attacks,” he noted. Pompeo warned, “Letting Russia win this war would be an unmitigated disaster for the American people and our security around the world.”
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell affirmed that the department is continually offering the President a range of strong military aid options for Ukraine, in alignment with the aim of ending the ongoing conflict. He remarked that the Pentagon is thoroughly reviewing and adjusting its strategies to ensure U.S. military readiness and uphold defense priorities consistent with the President’s America First agenda.
“This capability review, and that’s exactly what it is, going forward, we see this as a common-sense pragmatic step towards having a framework to evaluate what munitions are sent and where,” Parnell added.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned on Wednesday that Washington and Kyiv are in the process of clarifying the specifics of their defense support, particularly regarding air defense. “One way or another, we must ensure protection for our people,” he declared.
The U.S. decision to pause shipments occurs amidst an increase in Russian attacks across Ukraine. Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha reported that Russia deployed over 5,000 combat drones and launched hundreds of missiles, including nearly 80 ballistic missiles, just in June. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs articulated on Wednesday that they communicated to a U.S. official that any delays in supporting Ukraine’s defensive capabilities could embolden Russian aggression, hindering prospects for peace.
This story is developing, and updates will follow.
