US halts some missile shipments to Ukraine

NEW YORK, July 02 (Reuters): The Pentagon has halted some shipments of air defence missiles and other precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns that US stockpiles are too low, two people familiar with the decision said on Tuesday.

The slowing of some weapons shipments promised to Kyiv by former President Joe Biden's administration came in recent days, they said, adding that air defence interceptors to help knock down Russian drones and projectiles were among the items delayed.

In recent weeks Russia has intensified air attacks on Ukraine's cities, on several nights launching hundreds of drones and missiles at a time, leading to widespread damage and an increase in civilian casualties.

Since US President Donald Trump took office in January, he has softened Washington's position toward Russia, seeking a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine and raising doubts about future US military support for Kyiv's war effort.

Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of the Ukrainian parliament's national security and defence committee, called the decision to halt the shipments "very unpleasant for us".

"It's painful, and against the background of the terrorist attacks which Russia commits against Ukraine, it's a very unpleasant situation," Venislavskyi told reporters.

However, last week Trump said he was considering selling more Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine following a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine summoned a senior US diplomat on Wednesday, urging its key ally not to cut or delay critical military aid after the White House said it was halting some weapons shipments.

Kyiv said it had not been told anything by the United States about the halt to aid, which could thwart its ability to fend off escalating Russian air attacks.

Moscow revelled in the decision, saying it could bring the end of the war closer.

Kyiv has long feared halts to US aid after Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, having criticised the tens of billions of dollars in support and weapons sent by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

The US embassy's deputy chief of mission, John Ginkel, was summoned on Wednesday -- a rare diplomatic move usually reserved for foes and rivals, not vital allies -- amid uncertainty about what the cuts would mean for Kyiv.