(Image source from: x.com/WhiteHouse)

On Monday, US President Donald Trump announced a halt to military assistance for Ukraine, as reported by a White House official. This decision places significant pressure on Kyiv to concur with peace talks with Russia. This announcement follows an unexpected public disagreement between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with Trump aiming for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict. Earlier that same day, when approached by journalists, Trump refrained from dismissing the idea of a temporary cessation of aid. However, any interruption in the supply of US arms to Ukraine's frontline could quickly diminish the nation’s capability to repel the Russian invasion. A White House source, who spoke anonymously to AFP, stated, "The President has made it clear that his focus is on achieving peace. We expect our allies to share that commitment." The source further noted, "We are currently reviewing our assistance to verify that it contributes to a resolution."

Democrats in Congress swiftly criticized this aid suspension as perilous and unlawful. Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, asserted, "My Republican colleagues, who have labeled Putin a war criminal and have vowed to support Ukraine, must join me in urging President Trump to lift this harmful and illegal freeze immediately." Trump further cautioned that he would "not tolerate" Zelensky's resistance for much longer, suggesting that the Ukrainian leader ought to be "more grateful" for US support. During remarks at the White House, Trump stated that without a peace agreement with Moscow, Zelensky "won't be around very long."

The halt to aid takes immediate effect, affecting hundreds of millions of dollars worth of military supplies that were in transit to Ukraine, according to a report by The New York Times. For his part, Zelensky expressed on Monday his desire for the conflict to conclude "as soon as possible." This statement followed his accusations against Russia—who initiated hostilities in Ukraine in 2014 and escalated them in 2022—claiming it was not genuinely pursuing peace. He emphasized that strong security assurances were essential to resolve the war. However, Trump’s position has fundamentally altered US support for Ukraine, raising alarms among Washington’s allies regarding a potential shift toward Russia.

Following crisis discussions in London over the weekend, both Britain and France are exploring options to propose a one-month truce between Ukraine and Russia, potentially involving ground troops to support the ceasefire focused on "air, sea, and energy infrastructure." Zelensky mentioned that talks were still centered around the "preliminary steps," remarking, "A consensus on ending the war is still very, very far off," a statement that provoked Trump’s frustration. Zelensky also noted in a video message that "genuine, honest peace" would only be achievable with security guarantees for Ukraine, which had agreed to denuclearization in 1994 in exchange for protection from the United States and Britain.

Zelensky stated that the absence of security assurances for Ukraine over a decade ago enabled Russia to initiate its occupation of Crimea and the conflict in Donbas, and that same deficiency ultimately permitted Russia to undertake a comprehensive invasion. In response, Russia dismissed these remarks, accusing him of lacking a desire for peace, a sentiment echoed in US criticisms after he was met with hostility in the Oval Office on Friday. On the battlefield, Ukrainian authorities reported casualties resulting from a Russian missile attack on a military training site located approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) from the front lines. A well-known military blogger noted that the assault near Dnipro on Saturday resulted in the deaths of between 30 to 40 soldiers, with an additional 90 individuals injured. Former President Trump has previously labeled Zelensky, who has held office since 2019, a "dictator" for not conducting elections, despite the reality that martial law prohibits voting due to the ongoing conflict. Zelensky has rejected calls for his resignation, reiterating that he would only step down if Ukraine were granted NATO membership, which both Russia and, during Trump's administration, the United States oppose.

In Moscow, Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, attributed the altercation involving Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance on Friday to Zelensky's demonstrated lack of diplomatic skills. Peskov remarked to the media that "he doesn't want peace." On Monday, Vance expressed to Fox News that he was optimistic Zelensky would eventually consent to negotiations with Moscow. "I believe Zelensky hasn’t reached that point yet, and honestly, I think he still hasn't," Vance commented. "But I have faith he will get there eventually; he has no choice."

Conversely, Friedrich Merz, who is expected to become Germany's next chancellor, characterized the dramatic incident at the White House as a "deliberate escalation" on Trump’s part. Discussions between US and Russian officials regarding a resolution to the conflict have angered Kyiv and European nations for their exclusion, raising concerns that any potential agreement could jeopardize Ukraine's future.