Trump suspends all military aid to Ukraine

The suspension order applies to all US military equipment not currently in Ukraine, including weapons being transported in transit by aircraft and ships or waiting at transit sites in Poland.

The scale of the weapons whose supply was suspended is unknown, but thanks to former President Joe Biden, the United States was to send weapons worth $3.85 billion from American stockpiles.

Voice of America journalist Ostap Yarysh notes that the Biden administration's latest aid packages included air defense missiles, HIMARS ammunition, and artillery. Indeed, the penultimate package, allocated a month before Biden's term ended, was supposed to provide the Defense Forces with air defense, artillery, and other weapons systems.

According to the sources, this decision is valid until Ukraine’s leaders “demonstrate a good-faith commitment to peace.” The Trump administration will also review the aid to ensure it contributes to ending the war.

CNN also writes, citing sources, that the suspension of aid is a move by the Trump administration to obtain a public apology from Zelenskyy for the altercation in the Oval Office.

The New York Times previously reported that Trump planned to meet with his team on March 3 to consider cutting off aid to Ukraine. However, Trump later stated that the issue had not yet been discussed and that such a decision would “depend on what happens next.”

What happened in the White House?

On February 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington for his first meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Ukraine and the US were expected to sign a minerals agreement.

However, at some point during the meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, a dispute arose regarding the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Vance said that the war between Russia and Ukraine should be resolved through diplomacy. In response, the Ukrainian president said that he had already signed an agreement with Putin in the presence of the French president and the German chancellor before.

Zelenskyy also said that if a bad deal is signed between Russia and Ukraine, the United States will “feel it.” Vance and Trump were outraged and responded that they would “be great,” adding that Zelenskyy had no right to impose his opinion.

The Ukrainian president left the White House early, and the minerals deal was not signed. After that, Trump wrote that Zelenskyy “is not ready for peace,” but added that he “could come back” if he changed his mind.

Meanwhile, a number of world leaders and countries have sided with Zelenskyy, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.