Europe is currently awaiting an explanation from the White House regarding the decision to suspend arms supplies to Ukraine.
Amid news that the Trump administration has temporarily suspended supplies of artillery shells and air defense systems to Ukraine, some European allies' hopes for sustained American support have been shaken.
Bloomberg writes about this.
“In France, President Emmanuel Macron surprised other European leaders by calling Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation in Iran, a signal that other geopolitical priorities are beginning to weigh on the collective effort to isolate the Kremlin,” the article says.
Meanwhile, US diplomatic initiatives to end the conflict have proven ineffective, and the promised “crushing sanctions” from the US Senate have never been implemented.
At the same time, Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine. On June 29 alone, 537 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles were launched. According to the UN, almost 1,000 civilians were killed in Ukraine in the first five months of 2025, which is 37% more than last year for the same period.
Halt in the supply of artillery shells and air defense systems: what is known
Bloomberg recalled that recently, after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump announced that he was considering the possibility of supplying more Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.
The Defense Ministry said on July 2 that it had not received any formal notification of the suspension and had not observed any changes to weapons delivery schedules.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv invited Acting US Chargé d'Affaires John Ginkel to discuss cooperation.
“Any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities will only encourage the aggressor to continue the war and terror, rather than strive for peace,” the ministry said in a statement.
At the same time, Bloomberg reports that the White House confirmed Politico's report on the suspension of deliveries, saying it came after an inspection of U.S. ammunition stockpiles and concerns about their depletion. Among the weapons not provided are 155-millimeter artillery shells, portable Stinger missiles, Patriot air defense batteries, and Hellfire missiles, PBS Newshour's Nick Schifrin reports.
“European officials were stunned by the decision, especially after Trump's comments to NATO, as they push for ways to offset U.S. aid cuts, said one official familiar with the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks are taking place behind closed doors,” the report said.
Currently, as Bloomberg notes, European allies are awaiting clarification from the White House regarding this decision. Some argue that the position may be softened or changed.
Telephone diplomacy: why did Macron talk to Putin
While the European Union's allies have stepped up aid deliveries, including two million munitions pledged to Kyiv this year, the effort is not enough, says Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the presidential office. He says the expansion of military production in Europe is “slow.”
Moreover, the conversation between French President Macron and Russian President Putin reinforced the sense of division. The French leader spoke to the Kremlin for the first time since 2022 to agree on coordinating the countries' approach to Iran and its nuclear program.
“The call was made to ensure that Trump was not Putin's only interlocutor among Western countries as the dangers of Tehran's nuclear program grow, according to an official familiar with Macron's thinking,” the report said.
Macron told European leaders, as well as Zelensky, of his efforts to forge a common approach among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council on Iran, and assured that France would stand by Ukraine.
However, European leaders remained skeptical about the wisdom of opening a line of communication with the Kremlin.
Macron's conversation with Putin was seen as a victory for Moscow.
Who's Next: Will Merz and Putin Talk?
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said a bilateral exchange with Putin was unlikely. At the same time, he said he would take a call from the Kremlin leader if efforts to secure a ceasefire were to bear fruit and if Ukraine agreed to any commitments, he told ARD on Tuesday.
“Then we can talk. But we are still a long way from that,” Merz said.
Recall that the White House announced that the US is halting the supply of certain types of weapons to Ukraine. The decision was allegedly made “to put America's interests first.”
