A White House official confirmed that US President Donald Trump has suspended military aid to Ukraine after a confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House last week.
“President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace. 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,” the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said according to a report by Reuters.
The decision marks a significant shift in relations between the two countries and follows Trump’s adoption of a more conciliatory stance towards Moscow since taking office in January.
US halts military support to Ukraine amid growing tensions
The pause comes after what sources described as an “explosive confrontation” at the White House on Friday, during which Trump criticised Zelenskyy for not showing sufficient gratitude for Washington’s support in the war with Russia.
Neither the White House nor the Pentagon provided details regarding the scope, amount, or duration of the aid suspension. Zelenskyy’s office and the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington have not responded to requests for comment.
Trump reiterated his position on Monday, responding to an Associated Press report that quoted Zelenskyy saying the end of the war is “very, very far away.”
“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Democrats in Congress have condemned the decision. “By freezing military aid to Ukraine, President Trump has kicked the door wide open for Putin to escalate his violent aggression against innocent Ukrainians. The repercussions will undoubtedly be devastating,” Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said according to the report.
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