WASHINGTON, March 4: US President Donald Trump has paused all aid to Ukraine until further evaluation of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s commitment to ending the ongoing war with Russia, according to multiple reports from US media outlets. The decision, which is expected to be formally announced soon, marks a shift in the US approach to the conflict and has drawn attention on the global stage.
Fox News, citing unnamed officials, reported that the pause in aid comes amid growing concerns about Zelensky’s willingness to pursue peace. President Trump is set to address the issue of Ukraine in a speech to a joint session of the US Congress on Tuesday evening, just hours after implementing tariff hikes of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico, and 20% on goods from China.
In a heated exchange during a recent Oval Office meeting with President Zelensky, President Trump questioned Ukraine’s stance in the ongoing conflict. When asked what would be required to resume negotiations for a deal to secure Ukraine’s vast resources of rare earth minerals, Trump responded, “I just think you should be more appreciative because this country has stuck with them through thick and thin.”
Regarding Zelensky’s concerns in London that the war with Russia might drag on for an extended period, Trump expressed hopes that the Ukrainian leader was mistaken, emphasizing that both Russia and the Ukrainian people sought to end the war. Trump’s remarks appeared to signal his growing distance from Zelensky and a shift in US support, a stance that resonates with many in his Republican base.
Trump had previously labeled Zelensky a “dictator” and suggested that the Ukrainian leader was not calling for elections out of fear of losing. This rhetoric has intensified following a fiery exchange between the two leaders at the White House. In the aftermath, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a vocal supporter of Ukraine’s defense against Russia, called for Zelensky to step down. Zelensky, in turn, offered Graham Ukrainian citizenship so he could vote to oust him, highlighting the deepening tensions between the two nations.
