Recently, reports came out indicating that the U.S. was halting certain weapon supplies to Ukraine over fears that its stockpiles may be running too low.
Among the supplies that have been stopped are interceptor missiles for American-made Patriot air-defense systems.
These systems are especially vital to Ukraine as they are a key component of its air defense strategy.
The Patriot has thus far played an integral role in resisting Russian missile attacks and preventing Russian fighters from approaching too closely.
What We Know About Ukraine Arms Shipments Being Terminated
Included in the U.S. decision are the Hellfire air-to-ground missile, GMLRS missiles used by HIMARS rocket artillery, Stinger portable air defense systems, and 155mm artillery shells.
All of these are a significant blow to Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.
Ukraine is particularly reliant on artillery, as Russia possesses a significant artillery advantage in terms of numbers. HIMARS has also been a valuable asset for Ukraine, enabling it to strike key targets behind enemy lines.
Why the U.S. is Halting Some of its Deliveries
According to the White House, the decision to halt weapons deliveries was due to concerns that U.S. stockpiles are running too low.
This decision is shocking but ultimately not entirely unexpected.
Ever since 2023, there were hints that the U.S. and NATO would not be able to keep up with Ukraine’s defensive needs, and now it seems that reality has reached the top decision-makers at the DoD.
The U.S. has been by far the largest arms supplier to Ukraine, supplying more than 10s of billions of rounds of ammo and weaponry to Ukraine.
With the U.S. stepping down, the burden shifts to Europe to keep Ukraine provided with a capability that Europe currently lacks.
Israel may have played a part in draining the U.S. stockpiles. Following the strikes on Iran by Israel and the U.S., Iran responded by launching large volleys of ballistic missiles at Israel. These attacks succeeded in decreasing Israel’s supply of missile interceptors, most of which are manufactured in the U.S.
This left the U.S. with two allies in desperate need of Patriot missiles and other munitions, as well as the country’s own needs. Unfortunately, the U.S. lacks the capabilities to supply two conflicts and made the difficult decision to halt supplies to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Situation is Looking Grim
The U.S. decision to halt weapons supplies comes at an especially precarious time for Ukraine. In the last months, Russia has been massively increasing its drone/missile attacks against Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian Air Force officials, in one of its most recent attacks, Russia launched more than 470 drones and 60 missiles against Ukraine in one night alone.
Without American-made interceptors, the frequency of these attacks is likely to increase, as well as their success rate. With Ukraine’s air defenses exhausted, Russian missiles of all types can fly across the country unimpeded and strike sensitive targets like command centers and industrial zones at will.
On the front lines, things are not looking too much better for Ukraine. Russia continues to make slow, incremental advances along the entire front line. Currently, the Russians have been advancing around the strategically important city of Pokrovsk, attempting to cut off its supply routes.
In the north, Russia has been expanding its “buffer zone” in the Sumy region and has put the city itself in range of its glide bombs. In the Kharkiv region, Russian troops have been slowly approaching the cities of Kupiansk and Lyman, which would put the fortress cities of Krasnoyarsk and Sloviansk in jeopardy.
Has Ukraine Lost the War Already?
That being said, the fight is not yet over for Ukraine. While the Russians have been steadily advancing, their advance is still slow, which buys enough time for Ukraine to create more fortifications and wear down the attackers. Even without U.S. arms shipments, Ukraine has demonstrated its resourcefulness, able to make do with limited supplies. However, given the current state of affairs, the lack of American arms will likely hasten Russian gains, as Russian fighters will not have to fear American SAMs and MANPADs.
Ukraine has not yet lost, but it is in a precarious situation, and its circumstances are deteriorating by the day.
About the Author:
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
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Jim
July 5, 2025 at 10:41 am
“Russia is a declining power.”
That’s the mantra of Russia haters.
But that’s not the reality on the ground.
Reports suggest Russia is planning a 500,000 man army offensive this Summer to finish off Ukraine.
I’m sick & tired of the war supporters’ dismissive attitude about Russia because it’s not reflective of what’s happening on the battlefield.
It was never indicative of reality, but war supporters belief in 5th Generation Warfare propaganda as being more meaningful than simply pushing up war support on the homefront, but also being able to shape events (lying your way to victory??) on the battlefield was always detached from reality.
But such is the mentality of war supporters that they believe lies are more powerful than truth. This belief is being revealed as absurd.
Liars will eventually pay the price for their lies… but I don’t want Americans to pay the price because liars for their own ideological or financial reasons are willing to deceive the American People into a proxy war that can’t be won.
Ukraine is flushed down the toilet and war supporters can’t hide that fact anymore.
War supporters must be held accountable for the biggest foreign policy disaster in the 21st Century (they own it lock, stock, and barrel).
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