US President Donald Trump has abruptly suspended all US military aid to Ukraine, an order that takes effect immediately, cutting off more than $1 billion in arms and ammunition that were in the pipeline. The decision follows a dramatic Oval Office standoff with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking a critical turning point in US-Ukraine relations.
According to The New York Times, a senior administration official revealed that the aid freeze resulted from a series of high-level White House meetings. The suspension will remain in place until Ukraine demonstrates a commitment to peace negotiations with Russia, the official stated. The freeze also halts hundreds of millions of dollars under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which allows Kyiv to purchase US-made military hardware.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Washington has provided nearly $65.9 billion in military aid, and $69.2 billion since Russia’s initial aggression in 2014. The sudden aid halt deals a massive blow to Ukraine as it enters its third year of war with Russia.
The move comes just days after a heated public clash between Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Zelenskyy at the White House. Zelenskyy, who had arrived to sign a rare minerals deal, faced sharp criticism from Trump and Vance during a tense 50-minute press conference.
At one point, Vance rebuked Zelenskyy, saying, “It’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media… you should be thanking the president.” Trump followed up with a warning: “You’re gambling with World War Three. What you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country, which has backed you far more than many believe it should.”
As Trump and Vance accused Zelenskyy of lacking gratitude for US support, European leaders and global figures rallied behind Ukraine on social media, reaffirming their solidarity with Kyiv. In response, Zelenskyy simply replied: “Thank you for your support.”
