Kremlin admits Ukraine holds significant weapons stockpile amid US aid halt

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that despite a temporary pause in U.S. military aid, Ukraine still has a significant stockpile of weapons.

“Many are quick to assume that U.S. arms supplies will stop, that Musk will cut off communication systems, and that everything will go our way. Things will go our way regardless. One should always hope for the best but prepare for the worst,” Peskov said.

He added that even if Western aid ceases, Ukraine’s military will still have substantial resources, claiming that Russia faces a “quasi- and proxy war.”

On March 6, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Russia’s war against Ukraine as a “proxy war between two nuclear powers” — the U.S., which supports Ukraine, and Russia.

“It was clear from the beginning that President Trump sees this as a prolonged conflict at a stalemate. And frankly, this is a proxy war between nuclear powers — the U.S., which is helping Ukraine, and Russia — and it has to end. And no one has a clear plan for how to end it,” Rubio said.

The Kremlin later signaled agreement with the Trump team’s characterization of the war as a U.S.-Russia proxy conflict.

On March 9, NBC News, citing sources, reported that signing a mineral agreement would not be enough to restore U.S. aid to Ukraine. According to the report, Donald Trump wants Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to change his approach to peace talks, including considering territorial concessions to Russia. He also reportedly wants Zelenskyy to take steps regarding elections in Ukraine, possibly even “toward leaving office.”