WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine following last week’s clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zele­nsky, potentially hampering Ukraine’s efforts to fend off Russia as he pivots towards warmer relations with Moscow.

Trump upended US policy on Ukraine and Russia upon taking office in January, opening talks with Moscow. The reversal culminated in an explosive confrontation with Zelensky at the White House on Friday, in which Trump upbraided him for being insufficiently grateful for Washington’s backing.

“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 aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution,” a US official said on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The White House had no immediate comment on the scope and amount of aid affected or how long the pause would last.

The Kremlin said pausing US military aid would be the best contribution towards peace, although it still had to confirm details of Trump’s move.

Reuters also reported on Monday that Washington was drawing up a plan to potentially ease sanctions on Russia. The Kremlin said lifting sanctions was needed to normalise relations.

The cut-off of US aid to Kyiv puts more pressure on European allies, led by Britain and France, whose leaders both visited the White House last week and have publicly embraced Zelensky since the Oval Office blow-up.

Trump clash ‘regrettable’

Ukrainian President Zelensky said on Tuesday his clash with Donald Trump last week was “regrettable”, that he was ready to work under the US president’s leadership to bring lasting peace, and that it was “time to make things right”.

“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right,” Zelensky posted on X.

“My team and I stand ready to work under President Trumps strong leadership to get a peace that lasts,” he said.

His statement made no mention of the US suspension of military assistance. The Ukrainian leader said that Kyiv was interested in future cooperation and communication with the US.

“None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians,” he said.

Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said it looked like Trump was “pushing us towards capitulation”.

Europeans are racing to boost their own military spending and provide alternative support for Kyiv, including a plan to put troops on the ground to support any ceasefire, though they say they still need some form of US support.

France condemned Washington’s cut-off of aid, while Britain was more circumspect.

Suspending arms to Ukraine made peace “more distant, because it only strengthens the hand of the aggressor on the ground, which is Russia,” said French junior minister for Europe, Benjamin Haddad.

A British government spokesperson said: “We remain absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort.”

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2025