In a significant move, U.S. President Donald Trump suspended military assistance to Ukraine on Monday, according to a White House official.
The decision increases pressure on Kyiv to engage in peace negotiations with Russia.
The suspension follows a public confrontation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the U.S. leader pushing for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Earlier in the day, Trump had declined to confirm whether military aid would continue, but the freeze is expected to weaken Ukraine’s ability to resist Russian forces.
A White House official, speaking anonymously to AFP, emphasized Trump’s commitment to peace.
“The President has made it clear that achieving peace is the priority, and we expect our partners to align with that objective,” the official stated.
“We are reassessing our aid to ensure it contributes to a resolution.”
The decision was met with immediate backlash from congressional Democrats, who labelled the move both dangerous and unlawful.
Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called on Republicans to oppose the suspension.
“My Republican colleagues who have denounced Putin as a war criminal and pledged support for Ukraine must join me in demanding that President Trump lift this reckless and illegal freeze immediately,” Meeks asserted.
Trump also criticized Zelensky, warning that his continued defiance would not be tolerated.
He suggested that the Ukrainian leader should show greater appreciation for U.S. assistance, adding that Zelensky’s survival could depend on securing a ceasefire with Moscow.
“He won’t be around very long without a deal,” Trump remarked during a White House briefing.
According to The New York Times, the aid freeze is already in effect, impacting hundreds of millions of dollars in military support that was in transit to Ukraine.
Zelensky’s response and European reaction
In response, Zelensky reiterated his desire to see the war end as soon as possible but accused Russia of lacking genuine interest in peace.
He maintained that Ukraine would only consider an agreement that included strong security guarantees.
“Without firm protections, there can be no real peace,” he said.
The suspension of U.S. support has raised concerns among Washington’s European allies. Britain and France are exploring the possibility of a temporary truce covering air, sea, and energy infrastructure, with discussions of potentially deploying troops to enforce it.
However, Zelensky described the talks as being in their early stages and warned that a final resolution remained far off—comments that reportedly frustrated Trump.
Zelensky also pointed out that Ukraine had given up its nuclear weapons in 1994 in exchange for security guarantees from the U.S. and Britain, arguing that the lack of enforcement of these commitments had emboldened Russia.
“The absence of security guarantees allowed Russia to seize Crimea and launch a full-scale invasion,” he said in a video statement.
Meanwhile, Moscow dismissed Zelensky’s stance, accusing him of obstructing peace efforts. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blamed the Ukrainian leader for last week’s tense exchange with Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance, claiming he “lacks diplomatic skills” and is unwilling to negotiate.
Escalating tensions and global concerns
On the battlefield, Ukrainian authorities reported casualties following a Russian missile strike on a military training facility about 80 miles from the front lines.
A military blogger estimated that the attack, which occurred near Dnipro on Saturday, resulted in the deaths of 30 to 40 soldiers and left around 90 wounded.
Trump has previously criticized Zelensky, even calling him a “dictator” for not holding elections—though Ukraine remains under martial law due to the ongoing war.
Zelensky dismissed calls for his resignation, stating he would only step down if Ukraine were granted NATO membership, a prospect opposed by both Russia and the Trump administration.
In an interview with Fox News, Vice President Vance expressed confidence that Zelensky would eventually agree to peace talks with Moscow. “I don’t think he’s ready yet, but he will be,” Vance said.
However, Germany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, accused Trump of deliberately escalating tensions with his White House confrontation.
Amid these developments, U.S. and Russian officials have reportedly engaged in direct discussions on ending the war—without Ukraine’s involvement.
This has alarmed Kyiv and European allies, who fear that any deal reached without Ukraine’s input could jeopardize its sovereignty and security.