WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump on Monday directed a “pause” to U.S. assistance to Ukraine as he seeks to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia. This update from Reporter Bernie Bennett. VERBATIM: The move comes just days after a contentious Oval Office meeting in which […]
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President Trump Pauses Military Aid to Ukraine
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump on Monday directed a “pause” to U.S. assistance to Ukraine as he seeks to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia. This update from Reporter Bernie Bennett.
VERBATIM:
The move comes just days after a contentious Oval Office meeting in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance confronted Zelenskyy for what they perceived as insufficient gratefulness for the more than $180 billion in military aid the U.S. has sent to Kyiv since Russia invaded three years ago.
A White House official said Trump is focused on reaching a peace deal and wants Zelenskyy “committed” to that goal. The 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.
Bernie Bennett in Washington.