US President Donald Trump halts military aid to Ukraine after confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
Washington, DC: Following his confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump has suspended military assistance to Ukraine, according to Fox News.
Fox News reports that unless Ukrainian authorities demonstrate more gratitude for US assistance and a commitment to peace, the Trump administration is halting all supplies to Ukraine, including weapons en route or in Poland.
According to a top Trump administration source who spoke to Fox News, military assistance will not resume until Ukrainian authorities demonstrate a sincere desire to engage in peace talks.
A top Trump administration official stressed that “this is not a permanent termination of aid; it’s a pause.” “The orders are going out right now.”
Trump used harsh language last week when he spoke to the Ukrainian president in the Oval Office, telling the visiting leader that Volodymyr Zelenskyy “does not have the cards” and is not “acting thankful” for the assistance the US has given Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, which started in February 2022.
In an intense news conference, the two leaders spoke with the Ukrainian president, who emphasized the need for security assurances and pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin had persisted in his efforts against his nation even throughout Trump’s first term in office.
Zelenskyy’s comments were also criticized by US Vice President JD Vance, who called them “disrespectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country.”
Trump reminded Zelenskyy that “if you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks” and emphasized the need for a settlement to bring about peace and stop bloodshed.
Speaking on the ceasefire agreement earlier in the day at an investment announcement, Trump implied that if all parties involved—including European countries—are prepared to engage in negotiations, a deal between Russia and Ukraine should be achievable.
He emphasized that having all parties engaged in the negotiation process is crucial. “It takes two to tango, and if you are going to have to make a deal with Russia and Ukraine, you are going to have to have the assent and the consent from the European nations,” he stated.
Such an agreement might be made “very fast,” he noted, adding that if one party is hesitant to engage in negotiations, they may not hold onto power for very long. “Maybe somebody doesn’t want to make a deal and if somebody doesn’t want to make a deal, I think that person won’t be around very long,” Trump said.
“Because I think Russia is interested in selling. The Ukrainian people, in my opinion, are undoubtedly interested in reaching an agreement. More than anybody else, they have endured,” he said.
