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The decision follows a dramatic public confrontation between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump, who is pushing for a swift resolution to the war.
Washington:
US President Donald Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine on Monday, a White House official confirmed, significantly increasing pressure on Kyiv to enter peace talks with Russia. This decision comes just days after a heated public confrontation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump, who is pushing for a swift resolution to the war.
Earlier on Monday, Trump had refused to rule out a pause when questioned by reporters. However, any delay in the supply of US weapons to the front lines could severely undermine Ukraine’s ability to resist Russia’s invasion.
“The President has been clear that his priority is peace. We need our partners to share that commitment,” a White House official told AFP, speaking anonymously. “We are temporarily pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure it is contributing to a resolution,” the official added.
Congressional Democrats quickly denounced the decision, calling it both dangerous and unlawful.
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“My Republican colleagues who have labeled Putin a war criminal and vowed ongoing support for Ukraine must join me in demanding that President Trump immediately reverse this reckless and illegal freeze,” said Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Trump also issued a stern warning, saying he would not “put up” with Zelensky’s resistance for much longer and urged the Ukrainian leader to show “more appreciation” for US assistance. Speaking at the White House, Trump remarked that without a ceasefire agreement with Moscow, Zelensky “won’t be around very long.”
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The suspension took effect immediately, halting the shipment of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of weaponry to Ukraine, according to The New York Times.
On Monday, Zelensky stated that he was seeking to end the war “as soon as possible.”
His remarks followed accusations that Russia—having invaded Ukraine in 2014 and significantly escalating the conflict in 2022—was not genuinely committed to peace. Zelensky emphasized that only firm security guarantees could bring the war to an end.
However, Trump’s position has disrupted US support for Ukraine, unsettled Washington’s allies, and raised concerns about a potential shift in US policy toward Russia.
European Response
Following urgent talks in London over the weekend, Britain and France are exploring a proposal for a one-month ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, covering air, sea, and energy infrastructure—potentially backed by ground troops.
Zelensky acknowledged that discussions were still in their early stages, stating that “an agreement on ending the war is very, very far away”—a remark that reportedly frustrated Trump.
In a video statement, Zelensky reiterated that a “real, honest peace” could only be achieved with security assurances for Ukraine. He referenced Ukraine’s 1994 denuclearization agreement, under which the country surrendered its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security guarantees from the United States and Britain.
