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By Brendan Cole
Senior Reporter
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The Kremlin has welcomed the U.S. decision to suspend some arms deliveries to Ukraine as concerns among Kyiv and its allies grow about Ukrainian civilians being left more vulnerable to Russian attacks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that war in Ukraine would end more quickly the fewer Western weapons are supplied to Kyiv.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment.
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Why It Matters
The White House confirmed a pause in shipments of key air defense and precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns about declining U.S. stockpiles.
The U.S. freeze comes as Ukraine faces a record number of Russian drone attacks as concerns grow among U.S. lawmakers, analysts and Ukrainian voices that the decision could mean battlefield gains for Moscow and more strikes on civilians.
The Kremlin has repeatedly said arms shipments to Ukraine from allies prolong the conflict Moscow started and raise the risk of escalation.
What To Know
The U.S. confirmed this week it had paused supplying some arms to fight Russian aggression.
Among the weapons were important missiles for the Patriot air defense systems, according to the Institute for the Study of War, which also listed supplies of Stinger man-portable air defense systems, howitzer munitions and air-to-ground missiles as being affected.
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said the decision was made "to put America's interests first" following a review of military spending and American support to foreign countries.
Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that the U.S. made the decision because it did not have enough weapons, without providing proof for the claim.
Peskov referred to "empty warehouses" housing the American arms and said that the fewer weapons given to Ukraine "the closer the end of the special military operation," referring to the official Kremlin term for its full-scale invasion.
Peskov expressed the same sentiment to reporters on Thursday, according to state news agency Tass.
The ISW said the U.S. suspension will reinforce Putin's plan, expressed in June 2024 and repeated since then, to win a war of attrition with slow advances as he waits for
Western support for Ukraine to dry up.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Chargé d'Affaires John Ginkel. Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa warned any delay in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities "will only encourage Russia to continue war and terror."
Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and Founder of Hope for Ukraine told Newsweek the U.S. government needed "a change of course" in its policy to Ukraine to prevent an increase in civilian casualties, following a spike in Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets.
What People Are Saying
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, per the Tass news agency on Thursday: "The fewer foreign missiles enter Ukraine, the closer the end of the special military operation."
The Institute for the Study of War on Wednesday: "The latest US suspension of aid will strengthen Putin's belief that time is on Russia's side and his commitment to delaying negotiations toward a peace settlement and protracting the war.
Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and founder of Hope for Ukraine: "Ukraine needs air defense weapons more than ever before, since the Russians are stepping up their daily attacks on civilian targets."
What Happens Next
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his officials were clarifying with Washington the details of defense support after Kyiv said Wednesday it had not been officially notified of the freeze.
Meanwhile, some U.S. lawmakers have voiced criticism of the move with Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) calling on the White House and the Department of Defense (DOD) to hold an emergency briefing.
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