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Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy will focus on the abrupt halt in some key US weapons deliveries to Kyiv in a name on Friday or the approaching days, Zelenskyy stated on Thursday.
Ukraine summoned a senior US diplomat on Wednesday after it was caught off guard by the Pentagon’s choice to cease delivering a number of superior weapons methods. Zelenskyy has lobbied to purchase US Patriot defence missiles, together with in a gathering throughout final week’s Nato summit.
Ukrainians have been alarmed by the pause in deliveries of weapons, whereas Russia intensifies a summer season offensive that final weekend concerned its largest aerial attack of the war. Zelenskyy stated he needs to purchase 10 Patriot methods for $15bn to defend towards Russian drones and missiles.
“In fact, we rely on [the] continuation of American assist,” Zelenskyy stated throughout a go to to Aarhus in Denmark on Thursday. He stated it was “essential” that Ukraine obtained missiles for Patriot methods, which Europe is unable to supply.
Trump recommended through the Nato summit that he would contemplate promoting Patriot interceptors to Kyiv, however stated provides have been low. Defence division spokesman Sean Parnell stated on Wednesday the halt in deliveries got here after a “functionality evaluation” performed “to make sure US navy assist aligns with our defence priorities”.
Zelenskyy stated he hoped to debate the US-Ukraine relationship with Trump quickly. Folks accustomed to the planning, who requested anonymity as they weren’t authorised to debate it publicly, stated the Ukrainian president would additionally increase potential future arms gross sales through the name.
The White Home didn’t reply to requests for touch upon the deliberate dialog.
Trump additionally spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday for practically an hour.
Kremlin overseas coverage adviser Yuri Ushakov advised reporters that the US president had known as for an finish to the struggle, however that Putin had stated Russia would pursue its targets, “that are to settle all of the well-known preliminary causes that led to the present stand-off”.
“Russia won’t abandon these targets,” Ushakov stated, in keeping with Russian state media.
Trump advised reporters on Thursday afternoon that the 2 leaders didn’t get any nearer to a deal to finish the struggle in Ukraine.
“I didn’t make any progress with him as we speak in any respect,” Trump stated of Putin, earlier than boarding Air Drive One, including that they did focus on “plenty of issues, together with Iran”.
Ukrainian overseas minister Andriy Sybiha known as the performing head of the embassy, John Ginkel, to the overseas ministry on Wednesday to underscore the significance of US navy help. He stated the ministry warned that “any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine’s defence capabilities solely encourages the aggressor to proceed the struggle and acts of terror”.
On Thursday, Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv had secured an settlement with US firm Swift Beat for Ukraine to collectively produce drones able to intercepting Russian assault drones and missiles.
He stated the deal “foresees a whole bunch of hundreds of drones this 12 months alone, with the potential to considerably scale up manufacturing within the coming 12 months”.
European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen, additionally in Denmark, stated of the US transfer: “It’s a transparent sign, a transparent message to step up our assist. So ramping up our European defence capacities, not solely on the degree of the European Union, however a continental degree.”
In Washington, lawmakers and former diplomats criticised the Pentagon for halting weapons that had already been dedicated to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has accepted a lot of Trump’s proposals for the reason that White Home first recommended an unconditional ceasefire in March. The Trump administration pressured Kyiv into holding the primary face-to-face negotiations with Moscow in three years by temporarily pausing weapons shipments and intelligence sharing with Ukraine in early March.
These talks have stalled over the maximalist calls for of Putin, who stated final month that the “entire of Ukraine” was Russia’s, and that his forces would proceed their advance.
Ukrainian officers stated the aerial assaults have been meant to sow terror and destroy crucial infrastructure, whereas forcing them to make use of up their restricted air defences. Sybiha stated Russian forces had in June launched greater than 330 missiles, together with virtually 80 ballistic missiles, in addition to 5,000 fight drones and 5,000 gliding bombs.
The suspended shipments embrace Patriot interceptors, Stinger air defence methods, guided artillery shells and munitions utilized by F-16s and Nasams, in keeping with senior US and Ukrainian officers.
Greater than 100 Hellfire missiles, about 250 GMLRS rounds for long-range precision strikes and anti-tank methods such because the AT4 launcher have been additionally held again. Deliveries of some weapons have continued.
Extra reporting by Man Chazan in New York, Barbara Moens in Brussels and Steff Chávez in Washington
