The decision of the US administration of US President Donald Trump to suspend military aid to Ukraine will be a serious challenge to the country's defense capabilities, despite the fact that, as experts note, it will not lead to immediate consequences on the battlefield. This is reported by the AP, emphasizing that the US has stopped providing some types of weapons that were crucial for Ukrainian forces.
A Pentagon spokesman said Trump's order applies not only to new shipments but also to weapons that have already been approved and are being shipped to Ukraine. However, the exact details of which weapons are subject to the ban remain unclear.
The publication also draws attention to the fact that since the beginning of the war, the United States has used two main methods of supplying weapons to Ukraine: presidential authorization to take weapons from the Pentagon's stockpiles and the Security Assistance Initiative, which provides for long-term contracts. Some types of weapons approved by the Joe Biden administration have been banned, but the exact amount of aid that will remain on its way to Ukraine is still unknown.
One of the biggest consequences of the aid suspension is the weakening of Ukraine’s air defenses, including a shortage of Patriot missiles, which are critical for protecting Ukrainian cities from Russian air attacks. Patrick Bury, a military expert, noted that much of what the U.S. has supplied cannot be replaced by other countries in the short term.
Despite these difficulties, Ukraine has significant reserves of artillery shells and other ammunition, and has increased production of drones, which gives it some advantages. Also, most of the military equipment used by Ukrainian forces is produced domestically, which partially compensates for the loss of Western aid.
Experts say Ukraine can address its defense challenges through innovation and increased domestic production, but the hit to its material resources is significant and poses additional challenges for Europe. Chalmers, the RUSI expert, said the move is not only a material blow, but also a challenge for Ukraine's allies on the continent.
At the same time, some experts note that although this suspension of aid will have serious consequences for Ukraine's defense capabilities, the country will be forced to seek alternative ways to ensure its defense.
