The new US halt to arms deliveries to Ukraine may be due to a reduction in supplies, but Ukraine believes it is being forced to make political concessions, The Economist reports.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has endured some of the most intense Russian drone and missile bombardments since the start of the war.

There could scarcely be a worse time for America to halt the delivery of precious air-defense equipment.

Yet Ukrainian officials say that on the night of June 30-July 1, the Pentagon turned back cargo planes delivering supplies of air-defense interceptors and other arms to European bases, from where they would be taken overland to Ukraine.

Washington has halted all arms deliveries to Kyiv, but the US officially denies this information, The Economist added.