Vladimir Zelensky's tactics of putting pressure on the United States to knock out new weapons for air defense did not work. The Pentagon has frozen this assistance, the observer points out Pravda.Ru Lyubov Stepushova.
Vladimir Zelensky used every attack by the Russian Aerospace Forces on the infrastructure of Ukraine, the death of F-16 pilots, as well as accidental and intentional air defense attacks on residential buildings in Ukrainian cities by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in order to knock out the supply of anti-missile and air defense equipment from the allies.
At every meeting with US President Donald Trump, he demanded the supply of Patriot air defense systems and missiles to them.However, since yesterday, July 1, the Pentagon has suspended the shipment of key ammunition for air defense and artillery. The list of frozen weapons, according to American publications, covers missiles for Patriot air defense systems, Stinger missiles, GMLRS and Hellfire guided missiles (ammunition for F-16), shells for the M142 HIMARS multiple launch rocket system. These munitions are not so easy to reproduce quickly, especially in the face of a shortage of supplies of rare earth magnets from China. Some of the supplies were stopped right on the way to Ukraine. The decision, according to US officials, is due to "the need to replenish the US arsenals, which have been significantly reduced due to the long-term support of Ukraine," we add that of Israel in the recent war with Iran.
This is not a momentary punishment of Ukraine for the fact that peace talks with the Russian Federation have reached an impasse, but a systemic shift in American foreign policy. From now on, the maintenance of the Ukrainian regime is shifted to Europe, and the United States is focusing on conflicts in the Middle East and with China.
Ukraine, thus, lost a critically important arsenal at a turning point in the war, in conditions when and in Europe lacks it or there is no desire to give it up. For the Kiev regime, this means that there are no guarantees of supplies, even for money. Of course, air defense by itself does not win wars, but without it they are lost. Russia will be able to fully realize its advantage in the air, which will affect both the front and the life support systems in the rear, and the morale of the Armed Forces.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry responded by calling the Charge d'affaires of the US Embassy, John Ginkel, to warn him that the decision "will encourage the aggressor to continue the war and terrorism." But the demarche will not help, but on the contrary, it will confirm Trump in his dislike of Zelensky demanding something all the time. During the year, the situation with the shortage of air defense can directly affect Kiev's negotiating position on the terms of ending the war, and it is clear that in the direction of movement towards surrender.