US Government Shutdown Could Delay Weapons Supplies to kyiv

Ukrainian authorities are concerned that the US government shutdown could cut off arms supplies to kyiv, The Telegraph reports, citing sources.

The shutdown of the US government has suspended talks on the supply of weapons from the North American country to Ukraine and on a possible drone delivery agreement, a source from the Ukrainian authorities said. That source points out that the Ukrainian delegation that arrived in Washington this week to discuss the agreement, which provides for the exchange of technology for the manufacture of drones and which could reach billions of dollars, has encountered uncertainty as to whether the negotiations will take place.

«I don’t understand how they are going to continue […] The main problem is that we are having an intense debate about future supplies,” the source explained. He also stressed that “all future projects are somewhat affected because people from the Pentagon, the State Department and the White House are not meeting, and we are losing time because of this strike.” In addition, other Ukrainian delegations that were due to travel to the US in the coming weeks are currently forced to review their plans, the source added.

In this context, there is growing concern in kyiv that, during the pause, Donald Trump’s rhetoric will change again and the recent rapprochement between kyiv and Washington will fade, undermining hopes for more military aid, while the Ukrainian Army continues to retreat from the front. With RT

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