The Kremlin on Tuesday welcomed the US government’s decision to pause military aid to Ukraine and said this would be the best contribution to the cause of peace. However, it said that Russia needed to clarify the details of the move that came after Ukraine president Volodomyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House turned into a nightmare for the US-Ukraine diplomatic relationship.
“The President (Donald 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 White House official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The aid freeze will remain in place until the Trump administration determines that Ukrainian leaders are making a genuine effort toward peace.
Trump is pushing for an early resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war but Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s meeting with Zeelenskyy turned into a public face-off with Trump and Vance berating Zelenskyy for not being grateful to the US.
Ukraine says US is pushing Kyiv to accept Russia’s demands
Oleksandr Merezhko, the head of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, described the US’s foreign aid freeze as a dangerous step towards capitulation. “It looks like he is pushing us towards capitulation, meaning accepting Russia’s demands,” Merezhko said.
European leaders rally behind Zelenskyy
Europe’s democracies rallied behind Zelenskyy after the White House showdown and they pledged to work with Ukraine to come up with an alternative peace plan.
What is the way forward after Trump-Vance-Zelenskyy’s public fight?
The US has been a supporter of Ukraine since the war broke out in February 2022. But Trump excluded Ukraine from the peace negotiation talks claiming that Ukraine has no cards and hence should not be part of the negotiation. Before the White House showdown, Trump and Zelenskyy were badmouthing each other where Zelenskyy accused Trump of being fed by Russian disinformation and Trump called Zelenskyy a dictator.
After the disastrous diplomacy, Zelenskyy thanked the United States and expressed his willingness to resume talks. Trump said America will not put up with Ukraine for much longer. “It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing,” Trump said.