President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed in an interview with ABC News published on the 8th of June that US President Donald Trump’s administration diverted 20 000 anti-drone missiles originally intended for Ukraine to US forces in the Middle East, reports The Kyiv Independent.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine had counted on the missiles to fend off continued Russian attacks with the Iranian-developed Shahed.
On the 1st of June, Russia launched a record 472 drones in one night.
“We have big problems with Shahed drones… we will find all means to destroy them,” Zelenskyy said. “We counted on this project – 20 000 missiles. Anti-Shahed missiles. They were not expensive, but it is a special technology.”
Zelenskyy said the plan was agreed with then US defence secretary Lloyd Austin and was launched during President Joe Biden’s administration.
The Wall Street Journal reported on the 4th June that the Trump administration had diverted munitions, including special detonator systems for advanced missile systems used to intercept drones, to US forces in the Middle East. The Pentagon said in a classified report to Congress that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth considers this action “urgent”.
A Ukrainian military intelligence source told The Kyiv Independent that Russia is preparing for future attacks with more than 500 long-range drones every night as Moscow rapidly increases drone production and builds new launch sites.
Since January, the Trump administration has suspended approval of a new military aid package for Ukraine. Trump has questioned the continued support and suspended deliveries, only resuming them after Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire at the Jeddah talks in March.
Hegseth, who temporarily ordered the suspension of aid, did not attend the 4th of June meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, becoming the first US defence secretary to do so since the start of the war.
Ukraine has urged its Western partners to increase investment in domestic arms production and to supply more air defence systems, including the US-made Patriot, to counter increased Russian air strikes.
Despite growing international calls and Kyiv’s offer of a 30-day ceasefire as a basis for peace talks, Moscow continues to reject this proposal.
Trump, who recently spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has refused to impose new sanctions against Russia, saying he is focused on a negotiated ceasefire.
Trump administration diverted 20 000 anti-drone missiles intended for Ukraine, Zelenskyy confirms
