Zelenskyy warns that Ukraine must be prepared for possible halt in US weapons supplies

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed the need to prepare for a possible halt in US weapons supplies, while assuring that there are currently no signals indicating this will happen.

Source: Zelenskyy speaking to journalists, as cited by Ukrinform and European Pravda

Quote: "So far, we have no such signal – that there could be a halt in weapons supplies through PURL [a mechanism under which allies purchase American weapons for Ukraine – ed.].

Back in 2023, we held a Staff meeting, and I told our military that we must prepare for the possibility that US assistance could stop or become limited and no longer free of charge. We must diversify supplies and reduce the use of certain scarce weapons, ammunition, and so on. I also said we should start preparing for the possibility that at some point even paid-for weapons might not be provided to Ukraine."

Details: According to Zelenskyy, since then Ukraine has shifted its focus towards drone production instead of artillery shells.

He also noted that missiles for Patriot air defence systems may not always be available.

"There is currently a war in the Middle East, and there may be other reasons later. We must build our own independent defence industry in all aspects. In principle, that is what we are doing. We have a shortage of anti-ballistic missiles. So we need to work to ensure we have our own – or develop them jointly with partners. There are relevant ideas," the president said.

Background:

• The Financial Times reported that Donald Trump had supposedly threatened European allies with halting weapons supplies to Ukraine under the PURL programme unless they joined an operation to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
• Later, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said that Trump is reassessing not only the country's NATO membership but also support for European efforts in Ukraine.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on 28 March that the United States is not redirecting weapons purchased by NATO countries for Ukraine to the Middle East, but did not rule out such a possibility.

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