Trump puts aid for Ukraine on 'pause': Details and potential consequences

Contents

• Suspension of US aid to Ukraine
• What aid is put on 'pause'
• Military aid provided by US before pause
• Mixed reactions from Republicans
• Ukraine's response
• US makes decision without consulting allies

Suspension of US aid to Ukraine

Earlier, several leading Western media resources reported, citing a White House representative, that the administration of US President Donald Trump has suspended all military aid supplies to Ukraine. At the same time, there was no official announcement of this decision from Trump himself.

The decision concerns ammunition, vehicles, and other equipment, including supplies agreed upon during the presidency of Joe Biden.

"The President (Trump - ed.) has made it clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to also be committed to this goal. We are suspending and reviewing our aid to ensure that it contributes to a resolution," said the official regarding aid to Ukraine to Voice of America.

The Republican television channel Fox News also reported that the US is putting military aid to Ukraine "on pause until President Trump decides that Ukrainians are demonstrating a commitment to good-faith peace negotiations."

A senior official from the Trump administration clarified to Fox News that "this is not a permanent halt to aid, it’s a pause." Bloomberg informed about the suspension of military aid to Ukraine, citing a senior official in the US Department of Defense.

The news agency reported that all US military equipment that is not already in Ukraine will be delayed, including weapons that are in transit on planes and ships or waiting in transit zones in Poland.

According to the media resources, the American President ordered US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to implement the relevant decision, which was made by Trump after his meeting at the White House, where not only the Pentagon chief but also Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Trump’s Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff were present.

"The President made it clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to also be committed to this goal. We are suspending and reviewing our aid to ensure that it contributes to a resolution," writes the Washington Post, citing a White House representative.

CNN also reports, citing sources, that the suspension of aid is a step by the Trump administration to secure public apologies from Zelenskyy for the argument in the Oval Office.

Politico notes that the order to suspend military aid came just hours after Trump told reporters that he had not even discussed such a pause - and three days after the row in the Oval Office with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

During the argument, JD Vance expressed dissatisfaction with the "lack of gratitude" from the Ukrainian President for the provided aid, while Trump, in turn, said that Zelenskyy was playing "World War III" and stated that Kyiv "doesn't have the cards" to defeat Russia without continuous US aid.

"Trump also made it clear in public comments on Monday that the economic deal for which Zelenskyy came to Washington remains in place. The 'carrot and stick' approach is aimed at forcing Zelenskyy to engage in more serious negotiations to end the conflict with Russia," the Politico article states.

What aid is put on 'pause'

The Guardian writes that the decision concerns all aid that was previously approved by the US but has not yet been delivered, as Trump has not approved any new assistance to Kyiv since taking office.

Journalists explain that this refers to US aid that is not yet in Ukraine, including weapons currently being transported by planes and ships or waiting in transit zones in Poland. This move, as Bloomberg writes, includes the delivery of critically important ammunition, hundreds of guided multiple-launch rocket systems, anti-tank weapons, and other equipment.

The exact scale of the weapons is still unknown. However, Bloomberg's article noted that when Trump entered the White House, he had $3.85 billion remaining from the previous administration in the form of presidential authorities for reducing US arms stockpiles.

"It remained unclear whether the Trump administration was actually using this money for Ukraine, especially given that US weapon stockpiles are running low and need replenishment," the article states.

Moreover, if the US breaks existing contracts with arms manufacturers, this could require the government to compensate companies that had already started fulfilling orders for Ukraine.

In addition to military aid, US assistance to Ukraine also includes budgetary aid, which is mainly provided through the World Bank trust fund, and other funds provided through the US Agency for International Development.

Western media write that "it remains in question" whether the Americans will share intelligence data with Ukraine. However, several sources in military-political circles told RBK-Ukraine that there have been no changes in the provision of intelligence data to Ukraine by the US so far. One source even doubts that the suspension will affect intelligence data, as, according to the informant, "this is a separate line of cooperation."

Reuters also reports that Trump has suspended military aid to Ukraine. At the same time, this message is directed not only at Ukraine but also at Europe.

"President Trump has made it clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to also be committed to this goal. We are suspending and reviewing our aid to ensure that it contributes to a resolution," said an unnamed US official.

Sources told RBC-Ukraine that key members of the US Congress oversight committees were not informed about the decision to suspend aid, including members of the US Senate Committee on Armed Services.

Reuters, again citing an anonymous source familiar with the situation, adds that US military shipments have indeed been halted. According to the source, the movement of goods heading to Ukraine stopped around 03:30 Kyiv time (01:30 GMT).

Voice of America journalist Ostap Yarysh wrote that the last aid packages included missiles for air defense, ammunition for HIMARS, and artillery. At the same time, if look at the penultimate package, allocated a month before the end of Biden’s presidential term, it was supposed to supply Ukraine’s Defense Forces with air defense, artillery, and other weapon systems.

ABC TV channel, citing Pentagon officials, meanwhile reports that the suspension of US military aid to Ukraine primarily affected the supply of armored vehicles.

Military aid provided by US before pause

US aid included both military and budgetary assistance. The total amount of US aid to Ukraine by September 2024 was approximately $175 billion, according to reports from the Council on Foreign Relations and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Of this, $65.9 billion was military aid alone, starting from February 2022.

The most recent aid packages were announced by Washington during the presidency of Joe Biden, who, in the final weeks of his term, sought to ensure Ukraine received vital assistance. The Guardian provides a list of the aid that was announced on January 20, in the last hours of Biden’s administration.

Air defense

Given the relentless air attacks from Russian forces, Washington sent Kyiv more advanced air defense systems, including three Patriot missile batteries. European allies also provided Ukraine with such systems.

Other air defense systems included 12 NASAMS, Hawk systems, and their ammunition, as well as over 3,000 Stinger missiles.

To increase the efficiency of Ukraine’s air defense, 21 air surveillance radars were provided, along with equipment to integrate Western launchers and missiles into Ukrainian systems.

Missiles, shells, mortars

Washington sent important ATACMS missiles to Ukraine’s Defense Forces, over 200 155mm howitzers along with 3 million artillery shells, 72 105mm howitzers, and a million shells for them, as well as hundreds of thousands of mortars.

More than 40 HIMARS MLRS were delivered with the corresponding munitions. Washington also sent Ukraine over 10,000 Javelins, anti-tank missiles that became symbols of Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion during the early weeks of the war.

Over 120,000 other anti-tank weapons were delivered, as well as 10,000 Tow anti-tank missiles. Millions of small arms ammunition were also provided to the Ukrainian military.

Tanks, armored vehicles

The Pentagon had refused to send its combat aircraft directly to Kyiv, but the Biden administration provided 20 Soviet-designed Mi-17 military helicopters. It also supplied several different models of drones.

After prolonged delays from the Biden administration, starting in January 2023, Washington sent a total of 31 Abrams tanks. It also sent 45 Soviet-designed T-72B tanks.

The list also includes 300 Bradley fighting vehicles, 1,300 armored personnel carriers, over 5,000 Humvee military vehicles, and 300 armored medical evacuation vehicles.

Washington also provided patrol boats, coastal defense systems, mines, satellite communication systems, night-vision goggles, and over 100,000 sets of body armor.

Mixed reactions from Republicans

The decision to suspend the supply of weapons was made quickly but caused divisions among Republicans, with some lawmakers opposing this move, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Republicans in the US Congress, where the party holds a majority in both chambers, are divided on whether to continue aid to Ukraine, CNN confirms.

"I don't believe any of us here believe that Ukraine can win this war, and the President says, 'Let's end this.' If Zelenskyy doesn't want to negotiate peace, it's not our job to force taxpayers to keep funding an endless war," CNN quotes a Republican from Oklahoma.

In contrast, Republican Senator Susan Collins condemned the pause, asserting that the US should continue to support its ally. According to her, Congress "may not be able to do anything to ensure Ukraine continues receiving US aid."

"This is a critical time for Ukraine. Last year, I led an additional 'Ukraine' initiative that provided extra aid to Ukraine, and I don't think we should stop our efforts. It's the Ukrainians who are shedding blood," said the Republican from Maine.

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Republican Congressman Brian Mast, told CNN that he "knew about the option" for the Trump administration to suspend all US military aid to Ukraine.

Ukraine's reaction

Journalists from CNN, citing Western officials after the decision, write that "Ukraine will likely be able to maintain its current pace of combat operations for several weeks - possibly until early summer - before the US pause begins to have a serious effect."

"While European countries can replace American artillery supplies, supplemented by Ukraine's own growing defense industry, the most advanced weaponry used by Kyiv comes from the United States," the CNN report states.

Meanwhile, as Ukrainian MP and member of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence Fedir Venislavskyi, said in a comment to RBC-Ukraine, that Ukraine has a resilience reserve for approximately six months, even without systematic support from the United States.

"I believe Ukraine definitely has a resilience reserve for about six months, even without systematic aid from the US, but of course, it will be significantly more difficult. That’s why everyone is working now - the President's team, the Verkhovna Rada, and our committee - to consider options for compensating for the quantity and quality of weapons that the US may stop or has already stopped providing to us," Venislavskyi said.

According to the Ukrainian government official, last week, a closed meeting of the Verkhovna Rada's National Security, Defense, and Intelligence Committee was held to examine a negative scenario in which the US ceases military assistance.

"Our military-industrial complex has significantly expanded over the past three years and is capable of substantially mitigating the threats and risks arising from this situation. But there are, undoubtedly, certain categories of weaponry without which it will be very difficult. Only the US can supply them," Venislavskyi stated.

The MP emphasized that the main task is to find alternatives so that Ukraine’s Air Defense Forces have enough means to repel aerial attacks, as well as high-precision, long-range MLRS, which only the Americans currently possess.

The Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation Oleksandr Merezhko, called the US aid suspension reports a "shocking decision."

"Until the last moment, I hoped that Trump wouldn't do this because he wants to be popular, and such a move will definitely trigger a negative reaction," Merezhko said in a comment to ABC News, adding that in doing so, "Trump is helping Putin kill Ukrainians."

Meanwhile, the Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council, Andriy Kovalenko, warned of an upcoming wave of manipulation and information pressure.

"It’s still necessary to wait for official information because the media will inflate the situation as much as possible to cause panic. In any case, diplomacy is ongoing. Any fluctuations are part of diplomatic maneuvers, and we must not forget that," Kovalenko added.

The Presidential Office of Ukraine also made a statement. Advisor to the Head of the Office, Mykhailo Podolyak, emphasized that many programs were already at the final stage. According to him, Ukraine is now conducting a thorough audit of what is available, what can be produced within the framework of partnership cooperation, and what can be substituted.

"We are looking for something on commercial markets. We are discussing with European partners. And, of course, we are not overlooking the possibility of negotiations with our American partners," Podolyak stated.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who held a press conference today, stated that "as of yesterday, US arms deliveries were ongoing," and he has "no information that anything has been stopped."

"As of last night, we were receiving all the aid. As of this morning, I have not yet coordinated with the Minister of Defense to see if there were any changes. If there were, I am sure the Minister would have informed me," Shmyhal said.

At the same time, when asked by RBC-Ukraine whether Ukraine could adapt if the US ceased providing aid, he stated that "the military and the government have tools to maintain the situation on the front line," but for obvious reasons, this information is not subject to disclosure.

US makes decision without consulting allies

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that reports confirm the suspension of US aid deliveries to Ukraine through a hub in Poland. Tusk said that due to this situation, the government would have to make decisions in a "somewhat extraordinary" manner.

"There is no reason to believe that the statements from the American side are 'just words.' This, of course, puts Europe, Ukraine, and Poland in a more difficult situation," Tusk said.

Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Paweł Wroński stated that the US took this step without any information or consultations with NATO allies or the Ramstein group, which supports Ukraine. He added that the Americans did not inform their allies about their decision, and the issue is now being discussed by the EU Council.

"According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this is a very important decision, and the situation is very serious," Wroński added.

On February 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington, where he met with US President Donald Trump at the White House. It was expected that Ukraine and the US would sign a minerals agreement.

However, during a conversation with journalists in the Oval Office, an argument arose between Zelenskyy, Trump, and US Vice-President JD Vance regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. The sides were divided in their views, and Washington and Kyiv did not sign an agreement.

Instead, Zelenskyy traveled to London to meet with European leaders and stated that the end of the war was still far away. This angered Trump, who called it "the worst statement Zelenskyy could have made, and America will not tolerate this for long."

Later on Monday, the US President hinted that Zelensky wouldn’t last long if he "doesn’t want a deal."

"This shouldn't be such a hard deal. It can be done very quickly," Trump told journalists, referring to a ceasefire.

Sources: Politico, Reuters, CNN, The New York Times, Voice of America, ABC News, Bloomberg, as well as exclusive comments for RBC-Ukraine.