US President Donald Trump on Monday suspended military aid for Ukraine temporarily, after a contentious Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The decision is meant to pressure Zelenskyy to enter into peace talks with Russia.
According to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press, Trump’s administration is under review to ascertain whether the aid will lead to a peaceful settlement.
“We are holding back and taking a look at our support to make sure that it is helping to lead to a solution,” the official said.
A second official confirmed that the hold is on all military aid not yet shipped to Ukraine. The move is a result of Trump’s frustration with Zelenskyy’s demeanor at last week’s meeting, and the hold could be removed if Ukraine demonstrates a new willingness to negotiate.
Military Shipments on Hold
The freeze includes critical military equipment such as anti-tank missiles, artillery shells, and rockets.
Last week, Trump and Zelenskyy were due to clinch a deal allowing the US access to Ukraine’s key minerals in exchange for part of the $180 billion in aid Washington has given to Kyiv since the war erupted. But the deal fell through after a heated Oval Office exchange prompted White House staff to request the Ukrainian delegation to vacate.
Tensions Between Trump and Zelenskyy Escalate
The already tense relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy reached a new low after last week’s meeting. Trump, accompanied by Vice President JD Vance, was said to have criticized Zelenskyy for not being sufficiently thankful for US assistance since Russia invaded in February 2022.
White House Clarifies Suspension of Aid is Temporary
A senior official explained that the suspension is not an outright cancellation of US aid.
“This is not a permanent termination of aid, it’s a pause,” a Trump administration official said in an interview with Fox News.
Bloomberg reports that Trump had ordered Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to enforce the pause. The pause will be in place until Trump is content with Ukraine’s intent to enter peace negotiations.
US Thinking of Relasing Sanctions on Russia
As a part of initiatives to restore ties with Moscow and put an end to the Ukraine war, the US is preparing a plan to possibly relax sanctions on Russia. The White House, as reported by sources quoted by Reuters, has ordered the State and Treasury departments to draw up a list of sanctions that can be removed.
Since the invasion in 2022, Washington and its allies have enforced severe economic sanctions against Russia, with the oil and gas industry being targeted to restrict war-funding revenue. Steps involve a $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil exports and comprehensive restrictions against Russian energy firms and shipping vessels.
Trump had earlier this year threatened to impose tougher sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin did not agree to negotiate a halt to the war. But recent events suggest a change in the administration’s approach to ending the war through diplomacy.