US suspends military aid to Ukraine amid peace talks push

A few days after a public disagreement between the two leaders at the White House regarding peace negotiations with Russia, US President Donald Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine, in an attempt to increase pressure on his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, to make concessions.

Trump’s decision halts US military aid, including weapons, to Kyiv, which has been ongoing since the start of the war.

On Monday, a White House official told the Financial Times, “The President has made it clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to this goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to make sure it contributes to a solution.”

Trump had also suggested that the Ukrainian leader could be removed from office if he fails to reach an agreement with Moscow. The President added, “Making a deal shouldn’t be that difficult. It can be done very quickly. Now, maybe someone doesn’t want to make a deal, and if someone doesn’t want to make a deal, I don’t think that person will be around for very long.”

Following the emergence of news of the suspension on Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that it was linked to a broader diplomatic effort. Rubio said, “We want to get the Russians to the negotiating table. We want to explore whether peace is possible.”

US Vice President JD Vance, in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Tuesday, said that his message to the Ukrainians was, “Donald Trump is the only game in town.”

Vance, who joined Trump in rebuking Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday, also called on the Ukrainian President to “seriously work on the details” of a deal, adding, “The best security is to provide Americans with an economic advantage in Ukraine’s future.”