United States President Donald Trump has paused navy support to Ukraine in a dramatic escalation of his spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump will pause all support till Kyiv is dedicated to what he determines are good-faith negotiations for peace, a number of US media retailers reported on Monday, citing unnamed Trump administration officers.
“The president has been clear that he’s targeted on peace. We want our companions to be dedicated to that purpose as nicely,” an unnamed White Home official was quoted as saying by a number of retailers.
“We’re pausing and reviewing our support to make sure that it’s contributing to an answer.”
The transfer got here hours after Trump accused Zelenskyy of not wanting peace “as lengthy he has America’s backing” in a publish on Reality Social, escalating a confrontation that culminated in a surprising public conflict between the 2 leaders on the White Home on Friday.
The choice to droop the switch of tons of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in arms and ammunition which might be within the pipeline is more likely to deal a critical blow to Ukraine’s efforts to repel Russia’s invasion.
Whereas the US Congress has not accepted any new navy support past the tens of billions of {dollars} already dedicated to Ukraine since Trump’s inauguration in January, former US President Joe Biden accepted transfers to proceed supplying tools for not less than a number of years.
The US has appropriated $182.8bn in response to Moscow’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in line with the US Division of Protection, although that determine consists of broader spending associated to safety, equivalent to US navy coaching in Europe.
Earlier than Trump’s order, Washington was on observe to provide month-to-month deliveries value $920m this yr, up from $500m in 2024, in line with an evaluation by the Washington-based Middle for Strategic and Worldwide Research and Worldwide Research.
In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press final month, Zelenskyy stated his nation would have a “low probability to outlive” with out US assist.
The contemporary nadir in US-Ukraine relations comes after Trump took difficulty with Zelenskyy’s suggestion that the tip of his nation’s warfare in opposition to Russia’s invading forces was probably nonetheless “very, very far-off“.
Talking on the White Home on Monday, Trump stated Zelenskyy “higher not be proper” and that the warfare ought to “finish quick”.
“If someone doesn’t wish to make a deal, I feel that particular person gained’t be round very lengthy,” Trump stated.
“That particular person won’t be listened to very lengthy.”
Talking on X after Trump’s newest criticism, Zelenskyy didn’t immediately check with the US president’s remarks however stated Kyiv would proceed to work with companions.
“Now we have already had talks and different steps to come back quickly. It is extremely essential that we attempt to make our diplomacy actually substantive to finish this warfare the soonest doable,” Zelenskyy stated.
“We want actual peace and Ukrainians need it most as a result of the warfare ruins our cities and cities. We lose our folks. We have to cease the warfare and to ensure safety. We’re working along with America and our European companions and really a lot hope on US assist on the trail to peace. Peace is required as quickly as doable.”
There was no instant remark from Zelenskyy or his workplace on the pause in navy support.
We proceed our work with companions. Now we have already had talks and different steps to come back quickly.
It is extremely essential that we attempt to make our diplomacy actually substantive to finish this warfare the soonest doable.
We want actual peace and Ukrainians need it most as a result of the warfare ruins our…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 3, 2025
Trump’s transfer was broadly condemned by Democratic lawmakers and different supporters of Ukraine.
Democratic US Home of Representatives member Pramila Jayapal blasted the pause as a “shameful day in American historical past”.
“Let’s be clear – this isn’t about bringing peace. Donald Trump is siding with Russia, Putin, and dictators the world over over our allies and the protection of democracy,” Jayapal, who represents a district in Washington state, stated on X.
Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador to Russia below former US President Barack Obama, labelled the transfer “tragic”.
“Trump delivers persist with democratic Ukraine. Trump provides nothing however carrots for autocratic, imperial Russia,” McFaul stated on X.
“This isn’t power. That is weak spot.”
Trump’s determination is ready so as to add new urgency to Europe’s efforts to assist Ukraine and salvage negotiations to finish the warfare.
European nations, led by the UK and France, are inspecting proposals for a peace deal after final week’s beautiful rupture between Trump and Zelenskyy on the White Home.
“There are clearly various choices on the desk,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman stated on Monday.
The UK and France have expressed their willingness to ship peacekeeping troops to Ukraine within the occasion of a ceasefire however have known as on the US to supply a “backstop” within the type of safety ensures.
