Days After White House Clash, US Pauses All Military Aid To Ukraine
Washington, United States: Days after the Oval Office spat between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the US president has declared that the country has suspended military aid to Ukraine on Monday, according to a report citing White House sources.
The discussions between Zelenskyy and Trump for a ceasefire agreement amid the Russia-Ukraine ongoing war had turned into a public clash, which broadcasted live. Trump was seen pressuring the Ukrainian leader to agree to a peace deal with Russia, aiming for an immediate end to the three-year-long conflict.
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During the heated talk, Trump was heard highlighting the military and financial aid the US provided for Ukraine throughout the war period, demanding gratitude, while asserting that Ukraine is not in a good position currently. The Ukrainian leader left the Oval Office with disappointment, many call it as humiliation at the US’s highest office.
However, the US president has decided to pause aid to the warring Ukraine, which might arguably weaken the latter’s ability to withstand the Russian attack. “We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution,” news agency AFP quoted a White House official.
According to the official, the president has been clear that he is focused on peace, adding that they need their partners to be committed to that goal as well.
Trump had earlier suggested that he would not put up with Zelensky’s defiant stance longer, and added that the latter needed to be more appreciative of US support. Without a ceasefire deal with Moscow, Zelensky won’t be around very long, Trump warned. Notably, the Ukrainian leader said that he was also seeking for the war to end soon.
The Ukrainian leader has been accusing Russia of expanding the conflict and not being serious about peace, asserting that a robust security guarantee is the only solution to end the conflict and reach a deal. Last month, US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia for direct negotiations to end the conflict, drawing Ukraine’s criticism that any talks without their involvement are meaningless. Ukraine has maintained that the country is not ready to give up their lands and accept that these territories belong to Russia.
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As the deal is being pressured, Ukraine fears they might be compelled to accept a compromised settlement. Ukraine is seeking a robust post-war security framework. Whether through NATO integration, bilateral defense agreements, or a structured European-led security framework. The US-Russia engagement has raised fears in Ukraine that the Trump administration would provide more concessions to Russia in the name of de-escalation. Ukraine thinks it would only temporarily freeze the war, leaving Russia more room to unleash attacks against Kyiv.
During the presidential election campaign, Trump had promised to end the war in Ukraine quickly if he comes to power. He stated that the Russian president, Putin, could be trusted to keep the peace deal while pressuring the Ukrainian counterpart to agree to a ceasefire.
