In a dramatic turn of events, US President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended all American military aid to Ukraine with immediate effect, just days after an unprecedented showdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.
According to a report in The New York Times, a senior administration official confirmed that the freeze affects over $1 billion in arms and ammunition that were already in the pipeline. The official added that the order will remain in effect until Ukraine demonstrates a commitment to peace negotiations with Russia. This also pauses hundreds of millions of dollars in aid under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which allows Kyiv to buy new military hardware from US defense companies.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the US has provided $65.9 billion in military assistance, and a total of $69.2 billion since Russia’s initial invasion in 2014.
Trump-Zelensky Clash in Oval Office
This latest setback for Ukraine comes after a heated verbal exchange between Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Zelensky during his White House visit last Friday. The visit was initially meant to finalize a rare mineral deal, but tensions flared as Zelensky pressed for continued military support.
During a tense 50-minute press conference, Vance openly criticized Zelensky, saying, “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media… you should be thanking the president for trying to bring you into this conference.”
Trump escalated the confrontation, telling Zelensky:
“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War Three. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country, which has backed you far more than a lot of people say they should.”
Following the announcement, leaders from Europe and across the world took to social media to express support for Kyiv, with many rallying behind Zelensky. The Ukrainian President responded to the outpouring of solidarity with a simple but powerful message: “Thank you for your support.”