US President Donald Trump has paused all military aid to Ukraine, multiple American media outlets reported on Monday evening local time.
The decision follows a clash between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the White House. According to a senior Pentagon official speaking to US media, the American president is suspending aid until the Ukrainian leader "demonstrates a good faith commitment to peace".
"It is not the end of the aid, just a pause," a US official told Fox News. Even military equipment already en route to Ukraine is reportedly being halted.
The White House also confirmed the news. "Trump has been very clear that he is focused on peace," said an anonymous White House official. "We need partners who are also committed to that goal."
The aid suspension, which followed after a series of White House meetings between Trump and top national security officials, could be catastrophic for Ukraine's fighting capacity, officials and analysts said.
Last Friday, a discussion between Trump and Zelenskyy escalated during a highly hostile meeting at the White House. Trump and Vice-President JD Vance attacked Zelenskyy in front of the press, prompting the Ukrainian leader to leave Washington early without signing the mineral deal.
Trump intensified his threats against the Ukrainian leader on Monday, accusing him of not genuinely seeking peace with Russia, also reiterating that Zelenskyy should be more "grateful" for US assistance.
Soldiers in the street, during a Belgian Government visit to Borodianka in the Kyiv Oblast (province), on the second day of a visit to Ukraine, on Sunday 27 November 2022. Credit: Belga
Nonetheless, Trump believes that the agreement on access to Ukrainian minerals, which Zelensky was supposed to sign in Washington on Friday, can still be finalised.
Zelenskyy responded on social media that it is "very important that we strive to make our diplomacy truly substantial to end this war as soon as possible."
In a video released on Monday night, he reiterated his call for security guarantees for Ukraine.
"The lack of security guarantees for Ukraine 11 years ago allowed Russia to start the occupation of Crimea and the war in the Donbas, and this absence of guarantees later enabled Russia to launch a full-scale invasion," he said.
A European summit in Brussels on Thursday will focus on Ukraine and European security issues.
