Washington (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered to pause all military aid to Ukraine, a White House official announces. It came after his heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week, heightening the fissure that has opened between the two one-time partners.
As reported by Reuters, the official said,
“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 White House had no quick remark on the range and amount of aid involved or how long the delay would last. The Pentagon could not deliver further particulars.
In responding to the pause, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said, “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.”
What triggered the clash between Trump and Zelenskiy?
A day earlier, the US president again said that Zelenskiy should be more thankful for US support after reacting angrily to an Associated Press report citing Zelenskiy as expressing that 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 noted on Truth Social.
The U.S. Congress has authorized $175 billion in total aid for Ukraine, since Russia’s invasion three years ago, according to sources. The Trump government views a minerals deal as America’s way of gaining back some of the tens of billions of dollars it has provided to Ukraine in financial and military assistance since Russia raided three years ago.
When questioned on if the deal was doomed, Trump stated at the White House:
“No, I don’t think so.”
Trump characterized it as a
“great deal for us”
And stated he would give an update on the situation when he addresses a joint session of Congress.
Furthermore, in a TV interview, Vice President JD Vance asked Zelenskiy to take the minerals deal.
“If you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine,”
Vance stated.
