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The United States is suspending military aid to Ukraine as Donald Trump attempts to increase pressure on Volodymyr Zelenskyy, openly sending the White House in peace talks between the two leaders.
Trump’s decision has stopped a consistent supply of U.S. military aid, including the full invasion of Ukraine three years ago since Moscow.
As tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy grew, the U.S. president tried to push Ukraine to quickly resolve the conflict with Russia.
“The president is clear that he is focused on peace. We also need our partners to work on that goal as well. We are suspending and reviewing our aid to make sure it helps the solution,” White House officials said Monday.
Trump’s move comes after a fierce confrontation in the Oval Office on Friday, following an attack on the Ukrainian president on Monday afternoon and a speech at the White House reporter on Monday afternoon.
“I just think he should appreciate it more because the country keeps going,” Trump said of Zelenskyy on Monday, suggesting that he might take office if Ukrainian leaders fail to reach an agreement with Moscow.
“It shouldn’t be a tough deal,” the president added. “It can be made very quickly. Now maybe someone doesn’t want to make a deal, and if someone doesn’t want to make a deal, I don’t think that person will be long.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears to suggest it is related to broader diplomatic efforts after reports of the freeze appeared on Monday. “We want to get Russians to the negotiating table. We want to explore whether it is possible,” he said in a statement without directly mentioning the suspension.
Trump’s decision will intensify efforts in many European capitals to strengthen military support for Kiev, as the ongoing pause of U.S. aid could give Russian forces a great advantage on the battlefield.
On Monday night, the War Institute in Washington warned that the decision to cut off U.S. aid would “directly undermine President Trump’s goal of achieving sustainable peace in Ukraine.”
“Russia will use U.S. aid to Ukraine to stop occupying more territory in Ukraine and attempt to deplete European support – a method Putin outlined in his victory theory,” ISW added.
Trump’s move comes after a fierce diplomatic event in Europe, including a summit chaired by British Prime Minister Sir Kyle Steamer, and a one-month ceasefire proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron, trying to establish a settlement for Kiev on better terms.
Trump’s decision to stop the U.S. decision to Ukraine came on the eve of his speech to the joint Congress, the first in his second term.
The president has been trying to reach a deal with Kiev that would give the United States access to key Ukrainian minerals, but after the White House clashes (which U.S. officials believe are key to Washington’s support for Ukrainian support).
However, Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania said Monday that he spoke with Chief of Staff of Zelenskyy Andriy Yermak and believed the signing of the deal was about to take place.
“We will return this train to tracks 100%. This mineral agreement will be signed in the short term, which will lead to a strong long-term economic partnership between the United States and Ukraine and ultimately, naturally, to security assistance.”
He added: “Europe will be asked to strengthen and be part of themselves and they will have to ask them to do so.”
Democrats immediately attacked the suspension of military aid and called for a reversal.
“Donald Trump’s decision to unilaterally suspend funds for Ukraine is reckless, irrefutable, and poses a direct threat to our national security,” said Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania.
“The world is watching, and we can’t let Trump’s reckless action undermine our commitment to our allies and democracy itself.”
