STORY: The Pentagon has halted some shipments of air defence missiles and other precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns that U.S. stockpiles are too low, two people familiar with the decision said on Tuesday (July 1).

The slowing of some weapons shipments promised to Kyiv by former President Joe Biden's administration came in recent days, they said, adding that air defence interceptors to help knock down Russian drones and projectiles are among the items delayed.

In an email, the Pentagon said it was providing U.S. President Donald Trump with options to continue military aid to Ukraine in line with the goal of ending Russia's war there.

"At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving U.S. forces' readiness for administration defence priorities," said Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary for policy.

Russia, which already controls about a fifth of Ukraine, continues to advance gradually, gaining ground in recent weeks in Ukraine's southeastern regions of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk, and ramping up air attacks nationwide.

All weapons aid was briefly paused in February with a second longer pause in March. The Trump administration resumed sending the last of the aid approved under Biden.

No new policy has been announced.

Politico reported the pause on Tuesday.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: FILE OF U.S.-MADE MILITARY HARDWARE PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED TO UKRAINE AS AID BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: UNKNOWN LOCATION (FILE - RELEASED ON OCTOBER 17, 2023) (COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES VIA TELEGRAM - Must on screen courtesy Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces via Telegram) (NIGHT SHOT)

1. VIDEO SAID TO SHOW ARMY TACTICAL MISSILE SYSTEMS (ATACMS) BEING LAUNCHED

UNIDENTIFIED LOCATIONS, SOUTH KOREA (FILE - JULY 5, 2017) (K FORCE NETWORK - Access All)

2. VARIOUS OF ARMY TACTICAL MISSILE SYSTEM (ATACMS) BEING FIRED DURING UNITED STATES AND SOUTH KOREA JOINT MILITARY DRILL

UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, UKRAINE (FILE) (UKRAINIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE - Access All)

3. HIGH MOBILITY ARTILLERY ROCKET SYSTEM (HIMARS) ON ROAD

UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, UKRAINE (FILE) (UKRAINIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE - Access All) (MUTE)

4. UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS OPERATING HIMARS

UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, UKRAINE (FILE) (UKRAINIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE - Access All)

5. SOLDIER FLICKING SWITCHES

UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, UKRAINE (FILE) (UKRAINIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE - Access All) (NIGHT SHOTS)

6. VARIOUS OF HIMARS LAUNCHING ROCKETS

CAMDEN, ARKANSAS, UNITED STATES (FILE) (LOCKHEED MARTIN - Access All)

7. VARIOUS OF HIMARS DURING TESTING

DONETSK REGION, UKRAINE (FILE - JUNE 23, 2024) (REUTERS - Access All)

8. GUNNER LOADING HOWITZER

9. 155MM SHELLS LINED UP

NEAR VOVCHANSK, UKRAINE (FILE - MAY 20, 2024) (REUTERS - Access All) (NIGHT SHOTS)

10. 155 MM ARTILLERY SHELLS LINED UP NEAR M109 SELF-PROPELLED HOWITZER

11. VARIOUS OF 92ND BRIGADE GUNNERS LOADING AND FIRING HOWITZER

DONETSK REGION, UKRAINE (FILE - NOVEMBER 4, 2023) (REUTERS - Access all)

12. VARIOUS OF SOLDIER VITALIY (NO SURNAME GIVEN), AGED 22, REPEATING COORDINATES, ADJUSTING FIRE ANGLE

13. VITALIY FIRING SHELL

14. POINT OF VIEW FOOTAGE OF SOLDIER FIRING SHELL

15. SOLDIERS LOADING SHELL INTO HOWITZER, SHELL WITH U.S. FLAG PAINTED ON IT

16. VITALIY FIRING SHELL

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, UKRAINE (FILE - RELEASED AUGUST 4, 2024) (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE – Access all) (MUTE)

17. VARIOUS OF F-16 FIGHTER JET PREPARING TO TAKE OFF

18. VARIOUS OF F-16 TAKING OFF

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, UKRAINE (FILE - AUGUST 4, 2024) (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE – Access all)

19. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, WATCHING F-16 FIGHTER JETS FLYING

20. F-16 FIGHTER JETS FLYING

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, UKRAINE (FILE - AUGUST 4, 2024) (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE – Access all) (MUTE)

21. F-16 FIGHTER JETS FLYING DURING UKRAINE’S AIR FORCES DAY CEREMONY

22. ZELENSKIY WATCHING F-16 FIGHTER JETS FLYING

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, UKRAINE (FILE - AUGUST 4, 2024) (REUTERS – Access all)

23. VARIOUS OF TWO F-16 FIGHTER JETS FLYING

24. TWO F-16 FIGHTER JETS ON THE GROUND

KYIV, UKRAINE (FILE - FEBRUARY 13, 2022) (REUTERS - Access all)

25. PELLETS WITH WEAPONS BEING UNLOADED

26. FORKLIFT DRIVING AWAY

27. PELLETS WITH WEAPONS ON TARMAC

28. BOXES WITH STINGER MISSILES ON TARMAC

29. LABELS ON STINGER BOXES

UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, SOUTH KOREA (FILE - MARCH 7, 2024) (SOUTH KOREA'S DEFENCE MINISTRY HANDOUT - Access all)

30. VARIOUS OF SOUTH KOREA'S AIR FORCE OFFICERS LOADING AIM-9 TO AIRCRAFT

31. AIR FORCE OFFICERS CHECKING AIM-9