US halts military assistance to Ukraine following Trump-Zelenskyy dispute

A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed that the US Armed Forces have halted deliveries of military aid to Ukraine.

"I can confirm reports about the pause in military aid to Ukraine. I have nothing to add to this," the spokesperson stated, Caliber.Az reports via Reuters.

This confirmation follows earlier reports from US media, which, citing administration officials, revealed that President Donald Trump had ordered a temporary suspension of military aid to Ukraine. The decision reportedly came after a heated exchange between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.

According to an official who spoke to CNN, Trump viewed Zelenskyy’s conduct during the meeting as unacceptable and directly linked it to the aid freeze.

Trump is said to have expressed frustration over what he perceived as a lack of gratitude from Zelensky for American support. As a result, the suspension of aid is expected to continue until Kyiv demonstrates a commitment to peace.

Despite the freeze, a White House source clarified that this measure is only temporary and does not signify a complete cancellation of US assistance.

The Times claims that the suspension is being used as leverage to pressure Zelenskyy, with Washington making it clear that aid will remain blocked until Ukraine “proves that it wants peace.” 

Similarly, Fox News reported that the freeze applies to all military aid, including weapons that are currently in transit or stockpiled in Poland, and will remain in place until Ukrainian leadership engages in peace talks in good faith.

The diplomatic fallout stems from the February 28 meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House. The discussions were originally intended to centre on a mineral deal but quickly spiralled into a contentious dispute. The meeting, which also included US Vice President J.D. Vance, reportedly became heated, with Vance criticizing what he viewed as Kyiv’s ungrateful attitude toward American support. The tensions escalated to the point that Zelenskyy left the White House prematurely, and the anticipated agreement was never finalized.

By Tamilla Hasanova