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U.S. President Donald Trump has halted military aid to Ukraine after a tense exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week, according to a White House official.
This decision follows Trump's shift in U.S. policy towards Ukraine and Russia since taking office in January, where he has shown a more friendly approach to Moscow.
The confrontation with ' Zelenskiy ' at the White House on Friday involved Trump expressing disappointment over Zelenskiy's perceived lack of gratitude for U.S. support in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The official stated that Trump is focused on achieving "peace" and wants partners to share that commitment, leading to a pause in aid to assess its effectiveness in contributing to a resolution.
The White House has not provided details on the extent of the aid affected or the duration of the pause.
On March 3, Trump criticized Zelenskiy for not being more thankful for American assistance, especially after Zelenskiy remarked that the "end of the war seems distant. "
Trump expressed his frustration on social media, indicating that such statements from Zelenskiy would not be tolerated.
Since Russia's invasion, Congress has approved $175 billion in aid for Ukraine, but the ongoing tensions have made it unlikely that the Trump administration will utilize the previously approved military assistance.
Despite his frustrations, Trump mentioned the possibility of a deal to allow U.S. investment in Ukraine's mineral resources, as European leaders proposed a truce in the conflict.
"The Trump administration perceives a minerals agreement as a means for the United States to recoup some of the substantial financial and military assistance provided to Ukraine, totaling tens of billions, since Russia's invasion three years ago. "
When questioned on Monday about the status of the deal, Trump responded at the White House, indicating, "No, I don't think so." He characterized the agreement as a "great deal for us" and promised to provide further details during his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.
In a Fox News interview, Vice President JD Vance urged Zelenskiy to embrace the minerals deal, asserting that genuine security guarantees for Ukraine would stem from offering Americans economic benefits tied to the country's future, thereby deterring any potential aggression from Vladimir Putin.