US President Donald Trump has paused military aid to Ukraine, deepening the rift between the two nations.
Gatekeepers News reports that the move comes after a heated confrontation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House last week.
A White House official stated, “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.”
The pause on aid has sparked concerns among Democrats and European allies. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticised the move, saying, “By freezing military aid to Ukraine, President Trump has kicked the door wide open for Putin to escalate his violent aggression against innocent Ukrainians. The repercussions will undoubtedly be devastating.”
Oleksandr Merezhko, Head of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, also expressed concerns, stating that it seems like Trump is “pushing us towards capitulation.”
French junior minister for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, condemned the move, saying, “Suspending arms to Ukraine makes peace more distant, because it only strengthens the hand of the aggressor on the ground, which is Russia.”
The European Union is holding an emergency summit on Thursday to discuss the situation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has unveiled proposals to boost spending on defense in the EU.
Trump has defended his decision, saying that Zelenskyy should be more appreciative of American support.
He wrote on Truth Social, “This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!”
