Ukraine Pursues Joint Arms Production As U.S. Pauses Weapons/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ukraine pushes plans to co-produce weapons with allies as Russia’s offensive intensifies. Meanwhile, the U.S. pauses certain arms deliveries, citing depleted stockpiles. European nations are stepping up aid, but gaps remain in Ukraine’s defenses.

Quick Look: Ukraine Joint Weapons Production Quick Look
- Ukraine explores joint arms production with European allies
- U.S. halts select weapons shipments over stockpile concerns
- European aid now surpasses U.S. military support totals
- HIMARS, Patriot systems remain irreplaceable for Ukraine’s defense
- Macron and Putin hold first call in nearly 3 years
- Ukraine legislative push for defense production partnerships underway
- Kremlin claims U.S. pause could hasten war’s end
- Ukraine’s urgent talks with allies set for coming weeks

Ukraine Pursues Joint Weapons Production as U.S. Pauses Some Arms Deliveries
Deep Look
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine is pressing forward with plans to jointly produce weapons alongside international partners, even as the United States has announced it will pause some arms shipments previously promised to help repel Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday.
The developments come at a pivotal moment in the grinding war Moscow launched nearly 3½ years ago. A renewed Russian offensive has severely strained Ukraine’s outgunned defenses, while Russian missile and drone strikes continue to pound Ukrainian cities. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts, largely led by the U.S., to broker a peace settlement have stalled.
As President Donald Trump’s administration has pulled back from Kyiv’s war effort, European nations are increasingly stepping up, both diplomatically and militarily, to push back against Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday for the first time in almost three years. Macron’s office said the two-hour call included a firm message from France reaffirming “unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and calling for a ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking in his nightly video address, said officials are urgently preparing for upcoming meetings with European Union partners and other allies to explore collaboration in arms production.
“One of the key topics will be weapons production — our joint investments, joint projects,” Zelenskyy said.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that draft legislation enabling joint weapons production with foreign allies would be submitted to Ukraine’s parliament later this month. Umerov said the proposed laws were shared with Ukrainian defense companies on Tuesday.
The initiative envisions creating a specialized legal and tax framework to support domestic arms manufacturers as they scale up and modernize operations, including constructing new facilities both inside Ukraine and abroad.
Earlier this week, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, visiting Kyiv alongside representatives of Germany’s defense industry, said Berlin intends to help Ukraine accelerate domestic weapons manufacturing.
However, the U.S. is now halting certain weapons deliveries over concerns that American stockpiles have become too depleted, officials confirmed Tuesday. These shipments had originally been part of longer-term commitments made under the Biden administration. The Pentagon declined to specify which munitions would be held back.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. chargé d’affaires, John Hinkel, on Wednesday to discuss the evolving defense relationship. Deputy Foreign Minister Maryana Betsa expressed gratitude for ongoing U.S. support but stressed the “critical importance” of receiving previously promised defense packages, especially those aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reacted swiftly to Washington’s decision, saying that reducing arms supplies to Ukraine would bring the conflict closer to resolution. “The fewer weapons supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the [war] is,” Peskov said.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022, the United States has been Ukraine’s single largest military supporter. Yet under Trump’s administration, there have been no new announcements of U.S. weapons aid.
From March to April of this year, the United States allocated no new military aid to Ukraine, according to data from the Kiel Institute in Germany, which tracks global support for Kyiv.
For the first time since June 2022, European nations collectively surpassed the U.S. in total military assistance, pledging €72 billion ($85 billion) compared to €65 billion ($77 billion) from Washington, the Kiel Institute reported last month.
Washington’s pause on shipments could deprive Ukraine of some of its most crucial battlefield capabilities.
While European allies may help bridge some gaps—providing artillery and certain weapon systems—they lack substitutes for advanced U.S.-made arms like HIMARS rocket systems and Patriot missile defenses. These systems remain essential for shielding Ukrainian cities from relentless Russian aerial assaults.
It remains unclear how much weaponry Ukraine currently has in its arsenal or which systems it most urgently requires to withstand continued Russian attacks.
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