Western countries may follow US in reducing Ukraine arms aid — Russian lawmaker

Lead

A senior Russian lawmaker has suggested that Western countries may follow the United States in scaling back military assistance to Ukraine, as concerns grow over the potential use of supplied weapons beyond the country's borders. The comments come after reports that US President Donald Trump declined a request from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for additional Patriot interceptor missiles.

Coverage Comparison

Two separate reports from TASS, the Russian state news agency, covered these developments. The first, dated August 7, quotes Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo as saying that Kiev's reliance on Western weapons has failed. The second, dated August 8, quotes Russian State Duma member Leonid Ivlev on the possibility of reduced Western military support.

Key Claims

Russia's countermeasures against Western weapons

In comments to TASS, Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo asserted that Russia has found ways to counter Western weapons supplied to Ukraine. "Kiev's reliance on technological wonders and Western standards has failed," Saldo said, according to the report. "First they believed in the Javelin, then in HIMARS, then in long-range missiles, drones, and NATO training. Russia has found a way to counter all of this, has adapted, and continues to grow stronger."

However, Saldo noted that this does not mean Kiev is ready to lay down its arms.

Potential reduction in Western military aid

Russian State Duma member Major General (Ret.) Leonid Ivlev told TASS that Western countries may reduce military assistance to Ukraine as they recognize the risks of weapons supplied to Kiev being used outside the country. Ivlev cited "rampant theft" in Ukraine, with weapons spreading beyond the country's borders and criminal groups expanding their activities.

"In this situation, the US State Department and the Pentagon - whose officials are certainly no fools - can see the danger of weapons supplied to Ukraine being used by third parties in areas affecting US interests, which Washington considers unacceptable," Ivlev said. "Trump's refusal to meet Zelensky's request for additional military support may only be the beginning, with other countries potentially following the same path."

The statement references a Financial Times report that Trump declined Zelensky's request for additional Patriot interceptors, saying Washington needed the missiles to protect its assets and allies in the Middle East.

Rise in illegal weapons crimes

According to the TASS report, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has previously highlighted a rise in crimes involving illegal weapons and ammunition in Ukraine. The report also notes that Moscow has repeatedly said that Western arms supplies to Kiev and assistance with training Ukrainian troops only prolong the conflict without changing the situation on the battlefield.