United States President Donald Trump has paused army assist to Ukraine in a dramatic escalation of his spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump will pause all assist till Kyiv is dedicated to what he determines are good-faith negotiations for peace, a number of US media retailers reported on Monday, citing unnamed Trump administration officers.
“The president has been clear that he’s centered on peace. We want our companions to be dedicated to that aim as properly,” an unnamed White Home official was quoted as saying by a number of retailers.
“We’re pausing and reviewing our assist to make sure that it’s contributing to an answer.”
The transfer got here hours after Trump accused Zelenskyy of not wanting peace “as lengthy he has America’s backing” in a put up on Reality Social, escalating a disagreement that culminated in a surprising public conflict between the 2 leaders on the White Home on Friday.
The choice to droop the switch of lots of of tens of millions of {dollars} in arms and ammunition which might be within the pipeline is prone to deal a severe blow to Ukraine’s efforts to repel Russia’s invasion.
Whereas the US Congress has not permitted any new army assist past the tens of billions of {dollars} already dedicated to Ukraine since Trump’s inauguration in January, former US President Joe Biden permitted transfers to proceed supplying tools for a minimum of a number of years.
The US has appropriated $182.8bn in response to Moscow’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in accordance with the US Division of Protection, although that determine contains broader spending associated to safety, equivalent to US army coaching in Europe.
Earlier than Trump’s order, Washington was on monitor to provide month-to-month deliveries value $920m this yr, up from $500m in 2024, in accordance with an evaluation by the Washington-based Heart for Strategic and Worldwide Research and Worldwide Research.
In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press final month, Zelenskyy stated his nation would have a “low likelihood to outlive” with out US help.
The contemporary nadir in US-Ukraine relations comes after Trump took subject with Zelenskyy’s suggestion that the tip of his nation’s conflict towards Russia’s invading forces was doubtless nonetheless “very, very far-off“.
Talking on the White Home on Monday, Trump “higher not be proper” and that the conflict ought to “finish quick”.
“If any individual doesn’t need to make a deal, I feel that particular person gained’t be round very lengthy,” Trump stated.
“That particular person won’t be listened to very lengthy.”
Talking on X after Trump’s newest criticism, Zelenskyy didn’t immediately seek advice from the US president’s remarks however stated Kyiv would proceed to work with companions.
“We’ve already had talks and different steps to come back quickly. It is extremely essential that we attempt to make our diplomacy actually substantive to finish this conflict the soonest attainable,” Zelenskyy stated.
“We want actual peace and Ukrainians need it most as a result of the conflict ruins our cities and cities. We lose our folks. We have to cease the conflict and to ensure safety. We’re working along with America and our European companions and really a lot hope on US help on the trail to peace. Peace is required as quickly as attainable.”
There was no speedy remark from Zelenskyy or his workplace on the pause in army assist.
Trump’s transfer was extensively condemned by Democratic lawmakers and different supporters of Ukraine.
Democratic US Home of Representatives member Pramila Jayapal blasted the pause as a “shameful day in American historical past.”
“Let’s be clear – this isn’t about bringing peace. Donald Trump is siding with Russia, Putin, and dictators the world over over our allies and the protection of democracy,” Jayapal, who represents a district in Washington state, stated on X.
Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador to Russia beneath US President Barack Obama, labelled the transfer “tragic.”
“Trump delivers persist with democratic Ukraine. Trump offers nothing however carrots for autocratic, imperial Russia,” McFaul stated on X.
“This isn’t energy. That is weak spot.”
Trump’s choice is about so as to add new urgency to Europe’s efforts to help Ukraine and salvage negotiations to finish the conflict.
European nations, led by the UK and France, are inspecting proposals for a peace deal after final week’s gorgeous rupture between Trump and Zelenskyy on the White Home.
“There are clearly a lot of choices on the desk,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman stated on Monday.
The UK and France have expressed their willingness to ship peacekeeping troops to Ukraine within the occasion of a ceasefire however have referred to as on the US to supply a “backstop” within the type of safety ensures.
