US President Donald Trump has ordered a pause on military aid shipments to Ukraine following a heated Oval Office argument with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, a White House official told CNN on Monday.
The decision came after a series of high-level meetings at the White House and could significantly impact Ukraine’s war efforts, officials and analysts warned. The aid will remain suspended until Zelensky commits to pursuing peace talks, effectively pressuring Kyiv to negotiate by threatening battlefield losses.
“The president is focused on peace, and we expect our partners to share that goal. We are reviewing our aid to ensure it contributes to a solution,” the official said.
The move marks the most concrete sign of deteriorating US-Ukraine relations since Trump took office, following weeks of tensions and Trump’s public criticism of Zelensky.
While Ukraine’s forces could maintain their current fighting pace for several weeks, officials warn the pause could weaken Kyiv’s long-range strike capabilities, especially with advanced US weapons like ATACMS missiles now in jeopardy. The halt is expected to bolster Russia’s position if prolonged.
