The decision left officials on both sides of the Atlantic scrambling to find out how long the pause might last.

NATO boss Mark Rutte, who has been dubbed the “Trump whisperer,” warned against the US decision to halt key weapons shipments to war-torn Ukraine, fretting that it undermines peace

The move "was made to put America’s interests first," a White House spokeswoman said, as U.S. munitions have been depleted in recent years.