President Donald Trump has ordered a suspension of all U.S military aid to Ukraine, putting pressure on Volodymyr Zelenskyy just days after a dramatic Oval Office meeting, leaving Ukraine’s dependence on its most important ally in question.
The U.S. is set to halt all military aid until Trump is satisfied that Ukraine’s leaders are serious about peace, according to a top Defense Department official. The official, who asked not to be named, said that everything from military equipment not yet in place in Ukraine—guns in flight by air or sea and ready to transfer in Poland—will be held in abeyance. Trump has directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to implement the halt.
Donald Trump is calling for a quick end to the war that started when Russia invaded three years ago. But when Zelenskyy asked in last week’s Oval Office session for security guarantees to keep future Russian attacks from happening, Trump answered, reportedly with annoyance, saying he should come back only when he was prepared to talk peace. This response has prompted European allies to explore ways to continue arming Ukraine and possibly deploy peacekeepers, but Europe lacks the extensive military resources the U.S. has been providing.
Officials warn that existing weapon supplies may only last until summer. The extent of the aid impacted by Trump’s order is not known. At the time Trump was inaugurated, $3.85 billion in Ukraine funding remained available from the prior administration under the presidential drawdown authority. But with US weapons stockpiles low, it was not known if the Trump administration would release those funds to Ukraine.
Monday’s move is more than just allowing that funding to expire—it directly affects currently delivered aid. That includes vital munitions, guided multiple launch rocket systems, anti-tank missiles, and other vital military assistance. Furthermore, ending current defense contracts could mean the US would have to reimburse manufacturers for partially completed orders.
The US and Ukraine were also to seal a deal giving the U.S. a substantial portion of future natural resources revenue from Ukraine, but that agreement seems to have fallen through after last week’s bitter meeting.
Edited By Saumya Sharan
Also Read: https://theglobalic.com/2025/03/03/zelensky-trump-oval-office-clash-strains-us-ukraine-relations/
