President Donald Trump ordered a “pause” to U.S. military assistance to Ukraine on Monday, a dramatic escalation following a fiery Oval Office showdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last Friday.
The move, aimed at pressuring Zelenskyy into peace talks with Russia, reignites a playbook from Trump’s first term—when he froze aid in 2019, sparking his initial impeachment—and underscores his resolve to end the three-year war sparked by Russia’s 2022 invasion.
A White House official, speaking anonymously to the AP, framed the pause as a strategic pivot. “The president is focused on reaching a peace deal … and wants Zelenskyy committed to that goal,” the official said, adding that aid is being “paused and reviewed” to ensure it aligns with a resolution.
The decision follows Trump’s Monday tirade against Zelenskyy, who told reporters in London Sunday that the war’s end “is still very, very far away”—a remark Trump blasted on Truth Social as “the worst statement” possible, vowing, “America will not put up with it for much longer!”
READ: Zelenskyy Seeks To Mend U.S. Ties After Oval Office Clash, Signals Openness To Minerals Deal
Friday’s meeting—meant to ink a minerals deal tying U.S. economic stakes to Ukraine’s rare earths—imploded when Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance berated Zelenskyy for ingratitude toward America’s $100 billion-plus support since Russia’s attack.
“You’re gambling with World War III,” Trump warned before ejecting Zelenskyy and scrapping the deal. The clash, echoing Trump’s 2019 aid freeze to leverage probes into then-candidate Joe Biden, has allies like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) urging Zelenskyy to resign or shift gears, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) doubling down: “He needs to come back to the table.”
READ: Kremlin Pushes Sabotage Narratives As Rubio Slams Zelenskyy’s White House ‘Fiasco’
Trump’s 2024 campaign hinged on a pledge to swiftly end the conflict, a promise he’s paired with growing trust in Vladimir Putin’s peace-keeping bona fides—contrasting sharply with his souring view of Zelenskyy.
Monday’s aid pause halts gear in transit—like weapons on ships or staged in Poland—pending Ukraine’s “good-faith commitment” to talks.
Zelenskyy, defiant in London, insisted on security guarantees—a sticking point Trump’s brushed off, favoring a deal sans NATO or troop commitments.
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