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After the heated discussion between both leaders, Trump suspended military aid and intelligence to Ukraine, sparking concerns for the latter’s position in the war.
After being invited to the White House in late February, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the Oval Office defeated. The initial purpose of the meeting was to finalize a deal between both nations that grants the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth elements and to seek US security before any peace talks with Russia.
Though the meeting began with optimism, it slowly escalated when Zelenskyy expressed his skepticism against Putin and a potential peace deal. Things only worsened after Vice President J.D. Vance berated the Ukrainian leader for publicizing his grievances.
Following that, Trump, who went on to raise his voice, accused Zelenskyy of ‘gambling with World War 3’ and being ‘disrespectful’ with suggestions that the latter was promoting propaganda.
It was even posited that Ukraine would have lost the battle to Russia in less than two weeks had they not had access to US military equipment. Irrelevant to the agenda, the US participants present in the meeting even quipped about Zelenskyy’s attire.
The meeting abruptly ended with Trump inappropriately mentioning that it would have made ‘great television’. Nevertheless, the early departure of the Ukrainians left the mineral agreement unsigned and joint press conferences being cancelled.
A few days after the meeting, a decision was made by the White House to suspend military aid to Ukraine. This order that took effect immediately affected over $1 billion worth of arms and ammunition that was either on order or in transit. Trump stated that the aid would remain suspended until Ukraine demonstrated a genuine commitment to engage in peace talks with Russia.
That’s not all, either. The Western superpower also stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv. This was part of the nation’s effort to put a pause on both military and intelligence fronts, which is a significant blow to Ukraine’s military capabilities.
Before the suspension, the nation relied heavily on the US for both to target Russian forces and conduct operations. Since the war began, Ukraine has amassed an estimated $21 billion worth of military aid from the US. CIA Director John Ratcliffe maintained Trump’s position that any intel would be shared once Ukraine has pledged its commitment to the peace process.
