Trump pauses all US military aid to Ukraine
WASHINGTON—US President Donald Trump has paused military aid to Ukraine following his clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, a White House official said.
During a heated argument in the Oval Office, Trump criticized Zelenskyy for being insufficiently grateful for Washington’s backing in the war with Russia.
“President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution,” said the official on Monday, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The White House had no immediate comment on the scope and amount of aid affected or how long the pause would last. The Pentagon could not provide details.
Zelenskyy’s office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment nor did the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington.
Democrats in the US Congress denounced the move.
“By freezing military aid to Ukraine, President Trump has kicked the door wide open for Putin to escalate his violent aggression against innocent Ukrainians. The repercussions will undoubtedly be devastating,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
‘Lacking appreciation’
On Monday, Trump again said Zelenskyy should be more appreciative of American support after earlier responding angrily to an Associated Press report quoting Zelenskyy as saying the end of the war is “very, very far away.”
“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Since Russia’s invasion three years ago, the US Congress has approved $175 billion in total assistance for Ukraine, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
The Trump administration inherited $3.85 billion worth of Congressionally-approved authority to dip into US arms stocks for Ukraine, but given the growing row between Washington and Kyiv, it was already unlikely for that assistance to be used.
Monday’s move goes beyond the no-new aid stance Trump had taken since assuming office—and appears to halt deliveries of military equipment approved by Biden including munitions, missiles and other systems.
‘Make a deal’
At the Oval Office, Trump warned Zelenskyy that Ukraine had to make a deal with Russia to have peace “or we’re out. And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out.”
The American president also demanded that Kyiv enter into a ceasefire with Moscow, but Zelenskyy resisted recalling the numerous times Putin broke agreements on the cessation of hostilities.
Zelenskyy has made clear that a ceasefire must carry explicit security guarantees from the West to ensure that Russia, which holds about 20 percent of its land, does not attack again.
Trump said the minerals deal, which he suggested on Monday was still open despite his frustration with Kyiv, would be the guarantee.
