President Donald Trump on Monday temporarily suspended all U.S. military aid to Ukraine, according to senior administration and military officials. The decision comes just days after a heated confrontation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.
The order halts more than $1 billion in arms and ammunition that were already in the pipeline. According to officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the suspension follows a series of high-level White House meetings, during which Trump and his senior national security advisers discussed the future of U.S. support for Ukraine. The suspension will remain in place until Trump determines that Ukraine has shown a good-faith commitment to peace negotiations with Russia.
Trump’s decision dramatically escalates tensions between Washington and Kyiv at a critical moment in the conflict, with Russia standing to gain from the halt in aid. If the suspension is prolonged, Russian President Vladimir Putin may use the opportunity to press for further territorial gains, knowing that a U.S.-Ukraine dispute could weaken Kyiv’s defense position. Some experts suggest that Putin may stall negotiations altogether, believing that an ongoing rift between Trump and Zelensky will further strengthen his position—either on the battlefield or in future ceasefire talks.
There are few precedents in modern U.S. history for a decision of this scale. While presidents have occasionally paused arms transfers to allies, such as when President Joe Biden suspended bomb shipments to Israel over concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza, a full cutoff of aid to a wartime ally is rare. Trump’s move is seen as an ultimatum to Zelensky—either accept ceasefire terms dictated by the U.S. or risk battlefield losses.
U.S. Breaks from NATO Allies on Ukraine Support
The suspension also puts the United States at odds with its major NATO allies. European nations such as France, Britain, and Germany have recently pledged to increase military support for Ukraine, showing their alignment with Zelensky over Traump. However, they lack the stockpiles to make up for the absence of U.S. weapons in the short term, raising concerns over Ukraine’s ability to sustain its defense if American aid remains frozen.
Trump’s directive, first reported by Bloomberg News, halts shipments from Pentagon stockpiles as well as purchases under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which allows Ukraine to buy new weapons directly from U.S. defense contractors.
What remains unclear is what exactly Zelensky must do for Trump to reinstate military assistance.
Trump’s Increasing Alignment with Putin’s Narrative
Trump has increasingly echoed Putin’s talking points on the war, falsely claiming that Ukraine started the conflict. He has called Zelensky a “dictator”, while refusing to describe Putin in the same way, instead referring to the Russian leader as “smart” and “cunning.” Trump has also spoken in recent days about how he and Putin share a bond due to their mutual opposition to U.S. intelligence claims that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to support Trump’s candidacy.
The rift between Trump and Zelensky exploded into public view on Friday, when the two leaders were scheduled to sign a rare minerals trade agreement at the White House. The deal, which would have allowed the U.S. to secure Ukrainian mineral rights as repayment for military aid, was abruptly canceled after a heated Oval Office exchange.
Instead of a diplomatic signing ceremony, Trump and Vice President JD Vance openly berated Zelensky in front of cameras, accusing him of beiang ungrateful for U.S. support.
Trump: Zelensky Should Be “More Appreciative”
Following the fallout, Trump told reporters on Monday that he did not consider the minerals deal to be dead, calling it a “great deal for us.” However, he insisted that Zelensky must first show more appreciation before negotiations could resume.
“I just think he should be more appreciative,” Trump said.
Over the weekend, Trump also seized on Zelensky’s recent statement that a peace deal with Russia was “still very, very far away.” Reacting on social media, Trump called it “the worst statement that could have been made” and warned that “America will not put up with it for much longer.”
Some members of Trump’s cabinet have followed his lead in blaming Zelensky for the diplomatic breakdown. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, speaking on CNN, accused Zelensky of demanding excessive concessions in negotiations, including reparations from Russia, the return of seized Ukrainian land, and long-term security guarantees from the U.S.
Lutnick described Zelensky as “a troublemaker, not a peacemaker”, adding that the Ukrainian leader should be “more obedient to the U.S.”
White House Discusses Further Cuts to Ukraine Aid
Following Friday’s tense White House meeting, Trump administration officials immediately began discussions about potentially cutting other forms of U.S. assistance to Ukraine. According to senior officials, the White House is considering suspending not just military aid, but also training programs and intelligence-sharing agreements with Ukraine.
As of Monday night, it remained unclear whether Trump had also directed officials to limit intelligence cooperation with Kyiv, but at least one senior official said that intelligence-sharing was still ongoing—for now.
Trump convened a high-level meeting with his national security team on Monday to discuss options for reducing U.S. involvement in Ukraine.
The Impact on Ukraine’s War Effort
The decision comes at a pivotal moment in Ukraine’s war against Russia, as Trump signals that he no longer supports isolating Moscow.
According to analysts, Ukraine’s military could survive without U.S. aid for a short period, as it has increased its own weapons production and secured additional European military assistance. However, if the suspension lasts for months, Ukraine would lose access to key U.S. weaponry, including:
- Advanced air-defense systems
- Surface-to-surface ballistic missiles
- Long-range rocket artillery
- Critical spare parts and technical support
Zelensky has warned that while Ukraine will continue to fight regardless, losing U.S. military assistance would be a major setback.
“The contribution from the United States to Ukraine’s defensive capability and security is now around 30 percent,” Zelensky said in an interview last month. “You can imagine what would happen to us without this crucial 30 percent.”
Past Delays in U.S. Aid Left Ukraine Vulnerable
Ukraine has already experienced the effects of U.S. aid delays.
Last year, when Trump urged his Republican allies in Congress to block military funding, Ukraine was left vulnerable to Russian missile attacks on its energy grid. Without U.S. air defense system supplies, Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian bombardments was severely weakened.
The delays also impacted the battlefield, as Ukrainian forces had to ration ammunition, causing key artillery units to fall silent.
Now, with U.S. military assistanace once again on hold, the question remains: How long can Ukraine hold out before the effects are felt on the front lines?
