The United States is temporarily halting military aid to Ukraine, just days after President Donald Trump had a tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, a White House official confirmed to Reuters on Monday.
According to the official, the aid pause is part of a broader review to ensure it aligns with a viable solution, Reuters reports.
The suspension will remain in place until Trump determines that Ukraine's leadership is demonstrating a sincere commitment to peace, as reported by Bloomberg and Fox News.
“This is not a permanent end to aid, it’s a pause,” a Trump administration official told Fox News.
Bloomberg further noted that all US military equipment not yet in Ukraine— including weapons in transit via aircraft, ships, or waiting in Polish transit hubs— would be affected by the pause.
Trump reportedly directed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to implement the suspension.
The decision comes just hours after Trump told reporters at the White House that he had not discussed halting aid but remarked that Zelenskyy “should be more appreciative” of US support.
Nearly three years into the war, Washington has committed billions of dollars in assistance to Ukraine.
President Donald Trump has ordered a "pause" on U.S. assistance to Ukraine following a contentious Oval Office meeting, as he seeks to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into engaging in peace talks with Russia.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that Trump is prioritizing a diplomatic resolution to the war, which has persisted for over three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "The president is focused on achieving peace. We need our partners to be fully committed to that goal as well," the official said. "We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution."
The abrupt decision to halt aid comes after Trump significantly altered U.S. policy toward Ukraine and Russia upon assuming office in January, adopting a more conciliatory approach toward Moscow. The shift was further underscored by a heated exchange with Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, during which Trump reportedly chastised the Ukrainian leader for what he perceived as a lack of gratitude for Washington’s extensive military and financial support.
Following the meeting, Trump reiterated his frustration, particularly in response to an Associated Press report quoting Zelenskyy as saying that the end of the war remains "very, very far away." Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his displeasure, stating, "This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!"
Despite his criticism of Ukraine's leadership, Trump hinted that negotiations over Ukraine’s mineral resources could still proceed. The Trump administration has been advocating for a deal allowing U.S. investment in Ukraine’s mineral sector, seeing it as a way to offset some of the tens of billions of dollars Washington has provided to Kyiv in aid since the Russian invasion.
When asked at the White House on Monday whether the minerals deal was now off the table, Trump responded, "No, I don’t think so." He described the potential agreement as a "great deal for us" and indicated that he would provide an update on the situation during his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, European leaders have been proposing ceasefire arrangements to end the conflict, although it remains unclear whether such efforts will gain traction. Zelenskyy’s office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside of business hours.
The U.S. decision to reassess its aid to Ukraine marks a significant policy shift and raises questions about the future of American support for Kyiv. With Trump placing increasing emphasis on a diplomatic resolution, the move could have profound implications for Ukraine’s military strategy and its ability to counter Russian aggression.
As discussions continue, both in Washington and among European allies, the global community is closely watching how Trump’s approach will influence the course of the war and whether his push for a peace deal will yield any concrete results.
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