US newspaper predicts the time when Kiev army will face difficulties due to lack of aid from Washington

Specifically, WSJ wrote on February 25 that Ukrainian forces could lose the ability to maintain current levels of fighting by this summer without aid from the US.

According to RT, Moscow's forces are taking advantage in the Donbass region, taking control of the Novoandreyevka and Ulakly settlements in Donetsk over the weekend.

Even Kiev's current defense strategy could be at risk, as a lack of military aid from Washington could leave Ukraine short of ammunition for high-tech weapons supplied by the US by mid-year, according to former senior Pentagon official Celeste Wallander, quoted by the WSJ. US President Donald Trump's shift in Washington's foreign policy toward the ongoing conflict has forced Kiev to face the prospect of losing US military support.

Ukraine produces about 55% of its military equipment, while the US supplies 20% and the EU about 25%, the WSJ quoted a European official as saying. According to the newspaper, Ukraine's domestic arms industry currently produces about $30 billion in weapons a year.

Despite this, Ukraine remains dependent on the United States for key military supplies such as Patriot air defense systems and interceptor missiles, as well as long-range rocket artillery such as ATACMS. Kiev’s European allies cannot effectively replace these supplies because they either do not produce them or do not produce enough of them, the newspaper said.

Without essential weapons from the US, Kiev would lose the ability to protect its rear and carry out long-range attacks, the WSJ wrote, citing officials and analysts.

Mr Trump suspended US military and financial aid to Ukraine on his first day in office and pushed for a quick ceasefire in the conflict.

Trump also demanded that Kiev compensate Washington for the aid it provided by giving the US access to $500 billion worth of mineral resources.

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky reacted angrily to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Kiev when he was presented with the deal earlier this month, the Financial Times (FT) reported on February 24. According to the newspaper, the deal offers about 50% of Ukraine’s vital minerals as compensation for what Washington says is $500 billion in US aid to Kiev.

Last week, Russian and US diplomats met in high-level talks in Saudi Arabia, agreeing to re-establish formal relations. Moscow and Washington agreed to develop a framework to resolve the Ukraine conflict and prepare for a meeting between Mr. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.