Kiev, 3 July 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Ukraine and the United States are continuing negotiations over US aid to Ukraine following a Pentagon announcement of a halt to deliveries of certain US weapons already set to be sent, Ukraine said on Wednesday.

Currently, Kiev and Washington are working out all the details of defence support at the operational level, including air defence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening video address.

"In one way or another, we must ensure the protection of our people," he said. Agreements on weapons production are also being prepared with Denmark and other partners.

The delivery halt was attributed to concerns over diminishing US weapons stockpiles.

US official in Kiev summoned

On Wednesday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the deputy head of the US embassy in Kiev, John Ginkel, to discuss the partial weapons freeze, which had been approved under former president Joe Biden.

During the talks in Kiev, Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa emphasized the "importance of continuing the delivery of previously allocated defence packages," according to a statement from the ministry.

She highlighted the need to strengthen Ukraine's air defences. Betsa was acting on instructions from Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

"Any delay or slowing down in supporting Ukraine's defence capabilities would only encourage the aggressor to continue war and terror, rather than seek peace," the statement added.

The Defence Ministry in Kiev, which said it has not been officially informed about any "suspension or revision of the delivery plans for the agreed military aid," has requested a telephone conversation with US counterparts for clarification, it wrote on social media.

Zelensky: Ukraine relies on US companies

Zelensky also wrote on the platform X that during a meeting with representatives of US companies, who are members of the American Chamber of Commerce, he made it clear that Ukraine is counting on them.

"We also count on the voice of American business in our relations with the United States. Our defense is a shared one, and American systems in Ukraine protect not only lives, but also businesses," he wrote.

He added that cooperation should be systematically expanded, from reconstruction to defence and technology. It is important, he said, to work in and with Ukraine, pay taxes, maintain jobs and create new ones.

Danish talks on defence cooperation with Ukraine

Meanwhile, Ukrainian arms companies could soon be able to produce weapons and ammunition in NATO member Denmark.

Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced in Copenhagen on Wednesday that talks that could lead to Ukrainian arms companies producing weapons and ammunition in NATO member Denmark are under way.

Poulsen, speaking at a press conference on the Danish EU Council Presidency, which has just begun, said he expects progress on the talks to become clear by September or October, highlighting drones and missiles as examples of defence equipment that could be produced in Denmark.

Production in Denmark would enable Ukrainian companies to make manufacturing significantly safer from Russian attacks. If Russia were to attack sites in Denmark, Moscow would run the risk of a counterstrike by NATO.

Further political talks are necessary because it is currently not legally possible for Ukrainian arms companies to relocate their production to other European countries, Poulson said. New Ukrainian legislation would first have to be enacted.

Can Europe plug the gap?

European aid has already surpassed the US, according to Germany's Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW).

The IfW reported last month that Europe had provided a total of €72 billion ($84.7 billion) in military aid this year, compared to $65 billion from the US, counting deliveries through April.

Germany in particular could play a crucial role in strengthening air defence. Berlin has supplied Kiev with US Patriot systems from its Bundeswehr stock, as well as domestically produced Iris-T systems.

According to the German government, six such systems are now in Ukraine and have proven effective in protecting cities.

However, they are designed for short and medium-range applications. The anti-aircraft Gepard tanks supplied by Germany provide a defence against drones. Ballistic missiles can currently only be intercepted with Patriot systems, however.

Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian invasion for more than three years. In recent weeks, Moscow's military has been attempting to overwhelm the neighbouring country's air defence systems. On some nights, it launched more than 400 attacks using drones, missiles and cruise missiles.

Photo: EPA