Bloomberg has confirmed that US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to stop all military aid to Ukraine.
The agency cited a senior US Defense Department official. According to him, the decision will remain in effect until the new US leader decides that Kiev “demonstrates a conscientious commitment to peace“.
The official said that Trump has instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegsett to stop the delivery of all US military equipment that is not currently in Ukraine. This also applies to weapons that are already being transported by planes and ships or waiting in transit zones in Poland.
Relations between Washington and Kiev deteriorated dramatically during Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the White House last week. Publicly, Trump and Zelensky have traded high-profile accusations, and the new US administration has even threatened to abandon Ukraine in its fight against the Russian aggressor.
“The president has made it clear that he is focused on peace. Our partners need to be committed to that goal as well. We are suspending and reviewing our assistance to make sure it contributes to finding a solution,“ said a US source quoted by “Reuters“.
Zelensky's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment after hours. Fox News quoted another US official as stressing that it was a pause, not a permanent suspension of aid, BTA reported.
The move came after Trump changed US policy towards Ukraine and Russia upon taking office in January, adopting a more conciliatory stance towards Moscow - and after an explosive confrontation with Zelensky at the White House on Friday, in which Trump criticized him for not being grateful enough for Washington's support in the war with Russia.