WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump has put a hold on all military assistance to Ukraine following a recent confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a White House official confirmed on Monday.
“The president has been clear about his commitment to peace. We expect our partners to share that commitment. As part of this, we are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure it aligns with a peaceful resolution,” the official stated, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Zelenskiy’s office has not yet responded to Reuters’ request for comment outside regular working hours.
The decision follows a major shift in U.S. policy toward Ukraine and Russia under Trump’s leadership, which has seen a more conciliatory approach to Moscow.
It also comes after a tense meeting at the White House last Friday, where Trump reportedly criticized Zelenskiy for not showing enough gratitude for Washington’s military and financial support in Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia.
On Monday, Trump reiterated his frustration, reacting to an Associated Press report in which Zelenskiy stated that the war’s end remains “very, very far away.”
“This is the worst statement Zelenskiy could have made, and America will not tolerate it for much longer!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, using an alternative spelling of the Ukrainian leader’s name.
Despite the tensions, Trump signaled that negotiations over a potential deal to open Ukraine’s mineral resources to U.S. investment remain on the table.
Meanwhile, European leaders have been proposing possible ceasefire agreements to end the conflict.
The Trump administration views the minerals deal as a way for the U.S. to recover some of the tens of billions of dollars it has provided to Ukraine in financial and military aid since Russia’s invasion three years ago.
When asked if the deal was off the table, Trump responded, “No, I don’t think so,” adding that it was a “great deal for us.
He is expected to provide further updates during his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.