Trump halts military aid to Ukraine, after heated meeting with Zelensky

US President Donald Trump has halted military aid to Ukraine on Monday, a move that ramps up pressure on Kyiv to enter peace talks with Russia.

A White House official explained that this decision is part of a review to ensure that US support truly helps bring about peace.

The official added, “The President has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well.”

This decision comes only days after a very public disagreement between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with Trump pushing for a quick end to the war.

Earlier on Monday, when asked about a possible pause, Trump did not rule it out. However, experts say that cutting off the steady flow of arms to Ukraine could greatly weaken its ability to push back against Russia’s invasion.

Congressional Democrats have strongly criticized the move. Gregory Meeks, a leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, warned that those who have supported Ukraine must demand an immediate end to what he calls a “disastrous and unlawful freeze.”

Meanwhile, Trump warned that he would “not put up” with what he sees as Zelensky’s stubbornness, saying the Ukrainian leader should be “more appreciative” of US help.

At the White House, Trump even went as far as to claim that without a ceasefire deal with Moscow, Zelensky “won’t be around very long.”

The aid freeze affects hundreds of millions of dollars in weapons that were already on their way to Ukraine, according to reports. Zelensky, for his part, stated that he wants the war to end as soon as possible.

Yet, he accused Russia of not being sincere about peace and insisted that only strong security guarantees for Ukraine—similar to those promised by the US and Britain in 1994 when Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons—can truly end the conflict.

He argued that a lack of these guarantees had led to the crises in Crimea, Donbas, and the current full-scale invasion.

On the international stage, the pause in aid has added fuel to an already heated debate. European leaders, following crisis talks in London, are now considering a one-month truce between Ukraine and Russia, which might cover land, sea, and energy facilities, and could even involve ground troops. Despite these discussions, Zelensky remains skeptical, saying that an agreement to end the war is still very far off.

In addition to the political fallout, reports from the ground indicate that a recent Russian missile strike near Dnipro has killed a number of Ukrainian soldiers, worsening the already dire situation.

Both sides continue to trade harsh words, leaving the future of Ukraine’s fight against the invasion uncertain.