Military aid delays would 'encourage Russia to continue war,' Ukraine tells US envoy

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry told U.S. Charge d’Affaires John Ginkel that delays in U.S. military aid would only prolong the war, the Foreign Ministry said on July 2 after the Pentagon reportedly paused some weapons shipments.

Ginkel met Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa at the request of Ukraine’s chief diplomat, Andrii Sybiha.

During the meeting, the Ukrainian side warned that “any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities will only encourage Russia to continue war and terror, rather than pursue peace."

The meeting came against the backdrop of the U.S. media reporting that the U.S. Defense Department had paused some of the previously allocated shipments of air defense ammunition and other weapons to Kyiv amid a review.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly later confirmed the move, saying that the decision “was made to put America’s interests first following a (Defense Department) review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe."

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s readout, Betsa underscored Ukraine’s gratitude for U.S. aid and stressed the critical importance of continued deliveries, namely air defenses.

The Ukrainian diplomat also noted that Russia continues to reject a U.S.-proposed ceasefire that Kyiv agreed to during talks in Jeddah on March 11 and only intensifies its aerial attacks and ground offensives against Ukraine.

“Ukraine supports peace efforts and supports the U.S. calls for an immediate end to the killings and the war, stressing the need to compel Russia to seek peace,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Under these circumstances, strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and ramping up coordinated transatlantic pressure on Russia are critically important."

The aid pause comes in a critical moment as Russia is ramping up its aerial strikes across Ukraine and intensifying offensive operations along the front line.

The Trump administration has yet to approve any new major aid package for Ukraine and revealed plans to reduce military assistance in next year’s budget. The pause comes despite U.S. President Donald Trump recently signaling support for further Patriot supplies to Kyiv.

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The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post