U.S. President Donald Trump has paused all military aid to Ukraine following a heated confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week. The clash unfolded after Trump criticized Zelenskiy for not showing enough gratitude for the substantial financial and military aid the United States has provided since Russia's invasion of Ukraine three years ago. The situation escalated further when Zelenskiy responded angrily to an Associated Press report that quoted him saying the end of the war is "very, very far away."
Trump, who took office in January and adopted a more conciliatory approach towards Moscow, argues that the U.S. deserves more appreciation from Kyiv. He expressed his discontent publicly, suggesting that America seeks to recoup some of its investment through a minerals deal with Ukraine. Trump labeled such a deal as a "great deal for us" and indicated that it remained on the table despite his frustrations.
"This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!" – Donald Trump
The Trump administration views a potential minerals deal as an opportunity to regain some of the tens of billions of dollars provided to Ukraine. In response to inquiries about whether the deal was dead, Trump replied at the White House, "No, I don't think so." He plans to provide an update on the situation during his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.
European leaders have floated proposals for a truce in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, Trump's recent actions reflect a shift in U.S. policy towards a more cautious approach regarding military support for Kyiv. This shift has raised concerns among European allies who have been closely monitoring the situation.
Zelenskiy's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside office hours. Meanwhile, Trump took to Truth Social to voice his displeasure, using an alternative spelling of the Ukrainian leader's name.