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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - U.S. President Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine following last week's clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, potentially hampering Ukraine's efforts to fend off Russia as he pivots towards warmer relations with Moscow.
Trump upended U.S. policy on Ukraine and Russia upon taking office in January, opening talks with Moscow. The reversal culminated in an explosive confrontation with Zelenskiy at the White House on Friday, in which Trump upbraided him for being insufficiently grateful for Washington's backing.
"President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution," a U.S. official said on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The White House had no immediate comment on the scope and amount of aid affected or how long the pause would last.
Military experts say it could take time for the impact of missing U.S. aid to be felt on the battlefield. When U.S. assistance was held up for several months last year by Republicans in Congress, the most notable initial impact was shortages of air defenses to shoot down incoming Russian missiles and drones. Later, Ukrainian forces in the east complained of shortages of ammunition, including for artillery.
The announcement was met initially on Tuesday by silence from the Ukrainian government and Zelenskiy. Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the Ukrainian parliament's foreign affairs committee, said it looked like Trump was "pushing us towards capitulation".
The Kremlin said pausing U.S. military aid would be the best contribution towards peace, although it still had to confirm details of Trump's move.
Reuters also reported on Monday that Washington was drawing up a plan to potentially ease sanctions on Russia. The Kremlin said lifting sanctions was needed to normalise relations.
The cut-off of U.S. aid to Kyiv puts more pressure on European allies, led by Britain and France, whose leaders both visited the White House last week and have publicly embraced Zelenskiy since the Oval Office blow-up.
Europeans are racing to boost their own military spending and provide alternative support for Kyiv, including a plan to put troops on the ground to support any ceasefire, though they say they still need some form of U.S. support.
France condemned Washington's cut-off of aid, while Britain was more circumspect.
Suspending arms to Ukraine made peace "more distant, because it only strengthens the hand of the aggressor on the ground, which is Russia," said French junior minister for Europe, Benjamin Haddad.
A British government spokesperson said: "We remain absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort."
Ukrainians on the streets of Kyiv said they felt abandoned.
"Yes, it is betrayal, let's call it like it is," said lawyer Olena Bilova, 47. "But let's hope that American civil society and the elites of the European Union will not leave us alone."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled proposals to boost spending on defence in the EU, which she said could mobilise up to 800 billion euros ($840 billion). The EU is holding an emergency summit on Thursday.
On Monday, Trump again said Zelenskiy should be more appreciative of American support after earlier responding angrily to a report quoting Zelenskiy as saying the war's end was "very, very far away".
"This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
REUTERS | Andrea Shalal and Max Hunder
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