U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly ordered a pause in all military aid to Ukraine, effective immediately, following a heated confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday. The move is aimed at pushing Ukraine and Russia to engage in peace talks to end the long-running war.
“President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace," a White Hoiuse official reportedly said. "We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution.”
Monday's decision follows a contentious meeting where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelensky for perceived ingratitude and lack of commitment to peace.
Trump is focused on reaching a peace deal and wants Zelensky to demonstrate a good-faith commitment to ending the conflict. Monday's development marks a significant shift in U.S. policy towards Ukraine and could have far-reaching implications for the ongoing conflict.
A proposed deal for U.S. access to Ukraine's critical minerals, which was to help pay back over $180 billion in aid, was also put on hold after the contentious Oval Office meeting.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer rallied his 18 European counterparts Sunday to shore up their borders and throw their full weight behind Ukraine as he announced outlines of a plan to end Russia’s war. “Every nation must contribute to that in the best way that it can, bringing different capabilities and support to the table, but all taking responsibility to act, all stepping up their own share of the burden,” he said.
Starmer said they would develop a “coalition of the willing” to defend Ukraine and guarantee the peace.
“Not every nation will feel able to contribute but that can’t mean that we sit back,” he said. “Instead, those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency. The U.K. is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others.”
He said such mission would require strong U.S. backing. He claimed that there were “intense discussions” to get a security guarantee from the U.S.
“If there is to be a deal, if there is to be a stopping of the fighting, then that agreement has to be defended, because the worst of all outcomes is that there is a temporary pause and then Putin comes again,” Starmer said. He said he will later bring a more formal plan to the U.S. and work with Trump.
Zelensky also reportedly told reporters the peace deal with Russia is "is still very very far away." The comments drew sharp criticisms from Trump who also criticized Starmer's statement.
"This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!" Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday. "It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. – Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?"
Later at a press conference Monday, Trump repeated the criticism, saying "President Zelenskyy supposedly made a statement today --- He said he thinks the war is going to go on for a long time and he better not be right about that. That's all I'm saying."
Meanwhile on the war front, an oil pipeline in Russia was attacked by Ukrainian drones, causing a fire, and a deadly Russian strike on a Ukrainian military training ground has led to an investigation.
The UN nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, defended his staff's travel to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant through Russian-occupied territory, despite Ukraine's condemnation.
