President Donald Trump ordered a halt to all US military aid to Ukraine following his recent contentious meeting with Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelenskyy.
“The president has been clear that he is focused on peace,” a White House official reportedly stated. “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.”
Ukraine-US relations soured after President Zelenskyy publicly doubted the US’ ability to diplomatically resolve the Ukraine-Russia war.
Zelenskyy questioned Trump’s administration strategy with Russia, asking Vice President JD Vance “what kind of diplomacy” he was talking about when referring to the US’ seeming inability to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine in recent history.
Trump and Vice President Vance then blamed Zelenskyy for manipulating US support, being unreasonable in negotiations, and refusing to accept a ceasefire agreement that would end the war.
Trump and Zelenskyy’s heated discussion was supposed to be a brief press briefing but instead devolved into a row ending in the cancellation of a deal signing that would have exchanged US military support for rare earth mineral mining rights.
“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations,” said Trump. “I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office.”
The US is Ukraine’s single largest donor, having granted nearly $200 billion in military aid.
Trump alluded to a potential aid freeze during his discussion with Zelenskyy to bring him to the negotiating table.
Trump claimed that “he had empowered (Zelenskyy) to be a tough guy,” adding that “he wanted to see a little gratitude” in the form of Zelenskyy being willing to negotiate an end to the war with Russia.
