The Trump administration has halted all assistance to Ukraine until Ukrainian leaders demonstrate a greater appreciation of U.S. aid and commitment to peace.
This pause follows a heated meeting in the White House between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump over the best way to resolve the conflict that began three years ago with Russia.
A White House official said, “President Trump is clearly focused on peace. We need to have our partners also committed to this goal. We are pausing to review our assistance to make sure that it contributes to a resolution.”
Fox News was also informed by a senior Trump Administration official that the military assistance will be on hold until Ukrainian leadership shows a willingness to engage in good faith negotiations for peace.
The official stressed that “this is not a permanent suspension of assistance, but merely a temporary pause.” The orders are being sent out now.
The official said Monday’s move was in response to Zelenskyy’s conduct over the last week.
Zelenskyy and Trump’s meeting, which included Vice President JD Vance, erupted in a screaming match seen around the world. After Trump said that a final stage of peace negotiations to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia was nearing, the Ukrainian president came to the United States for a meeting with Trump.
Zelenskyy received a deal involving minerals and security from the Trump Administration prior to the event. However, the agreement did not include any security guarantees that would protect Ukraine against another Russian invasion.
After reporters asked the first question in the Oval Office, an angry spat broke out between heads of state.
A Ukrainian defense adviser said, “We can’t just sign… an agreement without substantial guarantees.” It’s just not going to happen. “It’s only going to reward those who are aggressive.”
Zelenskyy refused to sign the deal, which reportedly irritated Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The Ukrainian leader claimed that Russia did not stop attacking Ukraine during the four-year period between 2014 and 2020, which includes Trump’s initial term.
Zelenskyy added that Russian President Putin had violated bilateral agreements repeatedly.
Trump then accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War Three”, as the Ukrainian President rebuffed suggestions that he work harder to achieve a ceasefire between Vladimir Putin and himself.
Following the heated exchange, Zelenskyy refused to apologize when asked by Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier.
“Mr. President, do you think your relationship with Donald Trump — President Trump — after today can be salvaged?” Baier asked Zelenskyy.
“Yes, of course, because it’s relations more than two presidents. It’s the historical relations, strong relations between our people, and that’s why I always began… to thank your people from our people,” Zelenskyy said during an exclusive interview Friday on Special Report.”
“Of course, thankful to the president, and, of course, to Congress, but first of all, to your people. Your people helped save our people… we wanted very much to have all these strong relations, and where it counted, we will have it.”
Biden’s administration provided billions of dollars in military assistance to Ukraine during its three-year conflict following Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor.
In response to a question from reporters on Monday, Trump said that he will reveal the current status of the rare earth minerals deal when he speaks at a joint meeting of Congress in an annual State of the Union-style speech. In order to restart peace talks, he said he’d like to hear the Ukrainian leader show more gratitude to the United States for its support in the war.
Trump stated, “I think he ought to be appreciative of the fact that this country stuck by him throughout thick and thin.” We’ve done more for them than Europe, and Europe could have done more because that is the border.
