Ukrainians grapple with consequences of Trump's pause on military aid
[March 04, 2025]
By SAMYA KULLAB and HANNA ARHIROVA
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainians grappled Tuesday with the ramifications
of a U.S. decision to pause military aid that is critical to their fight
against Russia’s invasion, as a rift between Kyiv and Washington
deepens.
Days after an explosive meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the assistance halted in
a bid to pressure Kyiv to engage in peace talks with Russia.
Ukraine and its allies are concerned Trump is pushing for a quick
ceasefire that will favor Russia, and Kyiv is looking for security
guarantees to ward off possible future Russian invasions.
A White House official said the U.S. was “pausing and reviewing” its aid
to “ensure that it is contributing to a solution.” The order will remain
in effect until Trump determines that Ukraine has demonstrated a
commitment to peace negotiations with Russia, said the official, who
spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the assistance.
Ukraine needs help to fight Russia
Ukraine, which depends heavily on foreign help to hold back the Russian
invasion that began on Feb. 24 2022, has feared that aid could be
stopped since Trump took office.
U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile systems, for example, are a
pivotal part of Ukraine’s air defenses.
Just as vital is U.S. intelligence assistance, which has allowed Ukraine
to track Russian troop movements and select targets. Ukraine’s European
allies couldn't make up for a U.S. withdrawal of that asset if it proves
to be part of the pause.
“I feel betrayed, but this feeling is not really deep for some reason. I
was expecting something like that from Trump's side,” said a Ukrainian
soldier fighting in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukraine launched a
daring military incursion in August 2024 to improve its hand in
negotiations. The soldier spoke by phone to The Associated Press on
condition of anonymity to speak freely about his thoughts as he was not
authorized to speak to the press.
On the frontline, where Ukraine is struggling to fend off the much
larger and better-equipped Russian army, another soldier said the U.S.
decision would enable Russia to make further battlefield gains.
“War is very pragmatic,” he told the AP on condition of anonymity in
compliance with military regulations. “If we have weapons, enough
ammunition, infantry, armored vehicles and aviation — great. If not,
then we’re done,” he said.
He recalled a seven-month delay in U.S. aid that ended in April 2024 but
in the meantime opened a door for the Russian capture of the
strategically important city of Avdiivka.
Others said the move has left even greater confusion about Donald
Trump’s intentions.
“The problem is that it’s unclear what Trump wants and what the purpose
of his actions is,” said Oleksandr Merezhko, Ukrainian lawmaker and
chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. “As of today, it appears that he
is increasingly siding with Russia and trying to pressure Ukraine into
accepting Russia’s demands.”
“This looks terrible — forcing the weaker side to accept the terms of
the stronger aggressor,” he told AP.
Olena Fedorova, a 46-year-old resident of the southern port city of
Odesa, said she hoped Trump’s decision would be “a temporary measure”
because “we really need help.”
The U.S.-Ukraine relationship has taken a downturn in recent weeks as
Trump’s team launched bilateral talks with Russia and Trump’s demeanor
toward Zelenskyy has become increasingly dismissive.
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An Ukrainian serviceman of the Defence Intelligence prepares to
launch long-range drone An-196 Liutyi in undisclosed location,
Ukraine, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Trump says he wants to get traction for peace negotiations. He vowed
during his campaign to settle the war in 24 hours, but in January
changed that time frame and voiced hope that peace could be
negotiated in six months.
Russian government backs aid pause while European allies stress
support for Kyiv
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Washington's
decision could act as a spur to a peace agreement.
“The U.S. has been the chief supplier in this war so far,” Peskov
said. “If the U.S. suspends these supplies it will make the best
contribution to peace.”
Russia will likely try to use the halt in supplies to extend its
territorial gains and strengthen its position in prospective peace
talks.
Russia’s state RIA Novosti news agency quoted Andrei Kartapolov, a
retired general who chairs the defense committee in the lower house
of Russian parliament, predicting that Ukraine would exhaust its
current ammunition reserves within months. “We need to keep up the
pressure and continue to target their bases and depots with
long-range precision weapons to destroy the stockpiles,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's European allies reaffirmed their commitment to
Kyiv.
The chief of the European Union’s executive proposed an 800 billion
euro ($841 billion) plan to beef up defenses of EU nations to lessen
the impact of potential U.S. disengagement and provide Ukraine with
military muscle.
The British government, which has been leading European efforts to
keep Trump from pushing to end the war on terms that could favor
Moscow, said in a statement that it remains “absolutely committed to
securing a lasting peace in Ukraine.”
Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director-general of the Royal United
Services Institute, a London-based defense think tank, said
Washington’s move could encourage Russia to ask for more Ukrainian
concessions, including demilitarization and neutrality.
“This decision is not about economics. It is driven fundamentally by
Trump’s view that Russia is willing to do a peace deal, and only
Ukraine is the obstacle,” Chalmers said. “But there is no evidence
that Russia would be prepared to accept a deal, and what that would
be.”
Trump said on Monday that he is still interested in signing a deal
that would hand over a share of Ukraine’s minerals to the United
States, an agreement that Zelenskyy has also said he is ready to
sign.
“By abruptly halting military assistance to Ukraine, President Trump
is hanging Ukrainians out to dry and giving Russia the green light
to continue marching west,” said Razom for Ukraine, a Ukrainian
advocacy group. “Razom for Ukraine urges the White House to
immediately reverse course, resume military aid and pressure Putin
to end his horrific invasion.”
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Volodymyr Yurchuk in Kyiv and Aamer Madhani, Zeke Miller and Lisa
Mascaro in Washington contributed to this story.
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