Ukraine updates: US halts some missile deliveries to Kyiv

Ukraine says it is clarifying details with the US about its defense assistance after Washington announced it was halting some supplies.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an evening address that "Ukraine and the United States are clarifying all the details regarding the supply of defense support, including air defense components."

Minutes later, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on the messaging platform X that "we need more interceptors and systems. We are also ready to purchase or rent them."

Ukraine has called for a meeting with the deputy chief of the US embassy in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said any delays in US military aid to Ukraine would "encourage" Russia.

The development comes as Washington announced Tuesday it was halting some weapons deliveries to Ukraine. The pause is due to concerns that US stockpiles are running too low, according to the White House.

"John Ginkel was invited to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry," the ministry said in a statement.

"The Ukrainian side stressed that any delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities would only encourage the aggressor to continue the war."

Meanwhile, Russia welcome the US decision.

"In any case, the fewer the number of weapons that are delivered to Ukraine, the closer the end of the special military operation," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, using Russia's term for its more than three-year invasion of Ukraine.

The holding back of weapons shipments come at a precarious moment for Ukraine, which has endured weeks of intense Russian bombardment and has been ceding ground.

US media reported that Patriot air defense systems and artillery were among the items that would not now be delivered to Ukraine.

The Pentagon has halted some weapons shipments to Ukraine over concerns that US stockpiles have fallen too low.

"This decision was made to put America's interests first following a review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.

The move represents a blow to Ukraine as it tries to fend off Russia's missile and drone attacks.

In addition to ramping up air attacks across Ukraine, Russian forces, which already control about a fifth of Ukraine, continue to advance gradually.

They have gained ground in recent weeks in Ukraine's southeastern regions of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk.

Among the weapons shipments halted by the US are air defense interceptors to help knock down Russian drones and projectiles, and other precision munitions, Reuters news agency reported, citing two people familiar with the decision.

The US has so far provided Ukraine over $66 billion (€56 billion) worth of weapons and military assistance since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, spoke Tuesday by telephone for the first time in over two-and-a-half years.

During the talks, Macron urged a ceasefire in Ukraine, but Russia's leader responded by blaming the West for the conflict.

The talks lasted for more than two hours.

Macron and Putin agreed to hold more contacts on Ukraine and Iran in the future, the French presidency said.

Macron had informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of his plans to speak with Putin, and talked to him afterwards, Macron's office said without providing further details of the call to Zelenskyy.

The French president tried in a series of calls in 2022 to warn Putin against invading Ukraine and traveled to Moscow early that year.

 He kept up phone contact with Putin after the invasion, but talks then ceased.

The last call between the two leaders dated back to September 2022.

Macron has over the last year toughened his line against Russia, saying its expansionism is a threat to all of Europe.

Guten Tag, and welcome to DW's coverage of the latest developments concerning Russia's war in Ukraine. 

The US said late Tuesday that it's halting some key weapons shipments to Ukraine that were promised under the previous Biden administration.

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for the first time in over two-and-a-half years,

Stay tuned for more news and analysis.