- By Nidhi Giri
- Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:17 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
United States President Donald Trump has paused all military aid to Ukraine after his Oval Office argument with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a White House official said. “The president 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 White House official said, as quoted by CNN.
Another official said the pause will apply to all military equipment not yet inside Ukraine. The pause is a direct response to what Trump views as Zelenskyy’s bad behavior last week, the official said. They noted that a pause could be lifted if Zelenskyy demonstrates new commitment to negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The White House made the decision to pause military aid to Ukraine for now as officials seek an acknowledgement from Zelenskyy about the breakdown in relations following Friday’s blowup in the Oval Office.
A high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday escalated into a heated confrontation, resulting in the Ukrainian delegation being asked to leave. The clash, which unfolded in the presence of global media, centered on disagreements over US policy toward the Russia-Ukraine war.
The meeting, the first between Trump and Zelenskyy since Trump reassumed office last month, began on a positive note with handshakes and diplomatic pleasantries. However, tensions arose when US Vice President JD Vance criticised the previous administration’s handling of the conflict, arguing that former President Joe Biden’s strong rhetoric against Russian President Vladimir Putin had failed to prevent or de-escalate the war. Vance stated that Trump’s diplomatic approach offered a better path to peace and stability.
According to several officials, Trump and his senior aides are seeking an acknowledgement from Zelenskyy – potentially in the form of a public apology – before moving ahead with the minerals deal, which had been close to agreement before Friday’s meeting, or a discussion on continuing foreign aid. The decision to halt the aid was made later on Monday, one person said, and is part of a pressure strategy on Ukraine.
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In recent weeks, Trump has echoed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s talking points, falsely claiming Ukraine started the war and accusing Zelenskyy of being a dictator, but his decision to halt the delivery of military aid is a move that could have real consequences for the balance of the conflict and help Putin’s forces.
The halt also puts Trump even more clearly at odds with the United States’ traditional European allies like Britain and France, who made clear their support for Zelenskyy at a summit in London on Sunday.