Washington, March 4: In a significant policy shift, US President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended all American military aid to Ukraine with immediate effect, following a tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. The decision halts the delivery of more than $1 billion in arms and ammunition that were in the pipeline or already on order, according to a report by The New York Times citing a senior administration official.
Aid Suspension Tied to Peace Talks with Russia
The decision reportedly emerged from a series of meetings at the White House between Trump and his senior national security aides. According to the official, the freeze on military assistance will remain in place until Trump is convinced that Ukraine is demonstrating a commitment to peace negotiations with Russia.The suspension includes hundreds of millions of dollars in aid under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI)—a program allowing Kyiv to procure new military hardware directly from US defense manufacturers.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the United States has provided $65.9 billion in military assistance, with the total aid since Russia’s initial 2014 invasion amounting to approximately $69.2 billion, according to the US State Department.
Oval Office Confrontation: A Diplomatic Flashpoint
The aid freeze follows a dramatic confrontation between Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Zelensky during the Ukrainian leader’s visit to Washington last Friday. The two nations were poised to sign a rare minerals trade deal, but discussions unraveled in a heated verbal exchange in front of the global media.During a 50-minute press conference, tensions escalated as Vance accused Zelensky of disrespecting the US administration. "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,” Vance said.
Trump further pressed Zelensky on Ukraine’s reliance on US support, saying:
"You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War Three. You're gambling with World War Three, and what you're doing is very disrespectful to this country, this country that's backed you far more than a lot of people say they should."
Global Reactions: Rallying Behind Ukraine
Following the clash, world leaders and European allies took to social media to express solidarity with Zelensky and reaffirm their support for Ukraine. In response to the overwhelming international backing, Zelensky kept his message succinct, posting:“Thank you for your support.”
The abrupt suspension of aid marks a pivotal moment in US-Ukraine relations, adding uncertainty to Kyiv’s ongoing war efforts against Russia while further deepening the political divide over America’s role in the conflict.
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