President Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine following a tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House last week, according to Bloomberg.
The pause will remain in effect until Trump determines that Ukraine is demonstrating a “commitment of good faith peace negotiations.”
The decision follows Zelensky’s recent statement that an end to Ukraine’s war with Russia is still “very, very far away,” signaling that diplomatic progress remains elusive.
Zelensky visited London over the weekend as part of an effort led by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to broker a peace agreement. When asked about a new European initiative to end the war, he stated, “We are talking about the first steps today, and therefore, until they are on paper, I would not like to talk about them in great detail.” He continued, “An agreement to end the war is still very, very far away, and no one has started all these steps yet. The peace that we foresee in the future must be just, honest, and most importantly, sustainable.”
Later on Monday, Trump criticized Zelensky’s remarks, suggesting that the Ukrainian president’s stance indicated he was unwilling to negotiate peace.
White House officials told Fox News on Friday that “Ukrainians were begging to reset” after the tense meeting, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz reportedly instructed Zelensky to leave the White House grounds. According to officials, Trump and his administration felt disrespected by Zelensky’s behavior, with sources claiming he was “shrugging and rolling his eyes” during the meeting.
A planned lunch between Trump and Zelensky was ultimately canceled, and the food was instead given to White House Press Office staffers.
According to the New York Post, Zelensky left the White House at 1:42 p.m. on Friday.
Additionally, a scheduled press conference between the two leaders was abruptly canceled, and a rare earth minerals deal that was set to be signed on Friday was not finalized.
Following the meeting, Trump wrote, “We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
The pause in military aid marks a significant shift in U.S.-Ukraine relations and has raised concerns among officials and allies regarding the future of American support for Ukraine’s defense. As tensions rise, it remains unclear whether diplomatic negotiations will move forward or if the conflict will continue without U.S. involvement.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.