US President Donald Trump has cut off military aid to Ukraine after his clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a White House official confirmed. The decision deepens the rift between the former allies.
The move comes after Trump changed U.S. policy on Ukraine and Russia upon taking office in January, adopting a more conciliatory stance toward Moscow - and after an explosive confrontation with Zelenskiy at the White House on Friday, in which Trump criticized him for being too grateful for Washington's support in the war with Russia, writes A2 CNN.
"President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our assistance to ensure that it is contributing to a solution," White House officials told Reuters.
The White House had no comment on the scope and amount of aid affected or how long the pause would last. The Pentagon could not provide further details.
Zelenskiy's office did not respond to international media for comment, nor did the Ukrainian embassy in Washington.
Meanwhile, Democrats in the US Congress denounced the move. “By freezing military aid to Ukraine, President Trump has opened the door for Putin to escalate his violent aggression against innocent Ukrainians. The consequences will undoubtedly be devastating,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. (A2 Televizion)
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