Key Points
- Donald Trump has halted all military aid to Ukraine, according to a White House official.
- Trump also lashed out at Volodymyr Zelenskyy over his comment on the end of the Russia-Ukraine war.
- US vice president JD Vance called on Zelenskyy to accept the minerals deal.
Ukraine’s Australian ambassador says the United States’ geopolitical role is shifting after the White House announced it had paused all military aid to his country.
The US move comes just days after — who is seeking a rapid end to — and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The White House had no immediate comment on the scope and amount of aid affected or how long the pause would last. The Pentagon could not provide further details.
But the New York Times reported the pause had gone into effect immediately and affects hundreds of millions of dollars of weaponry in the process of being sent to Ukraine.
“Whether one likes it or not, America is changing its role in the world. It’s up to the world to step up in the name of democracy,” Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Ukraine is doing that and we are grateful for Australia’s increased willingness to do so.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier reiterated Australia’s support for Ukraine as he said in the country. Peacekeepers have been floated by as part of a deal a “coalition of the willing” plans to present to the US.
Starmer says the UK and European nations should lead security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a peace deal, but wants the US to back it.
Before the White House announced its ban, Starmer said Western countries must keep military aid to Ukraine flowing, and “increasing the economic pressure on Russia”.
Earlier, Trump reiterated that Zelenskyy should be more appreciative of US’ support after earlier responding angrily to an Associated Press report quoting Zelenskyy as saying the end of the war is “very, very far away”.
“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump still wants minerals deal
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago, the US Congress has approved US$175 billion ($282.4 billion) in total assistance for Ukraine, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
The Trump administration inherited US$3.85 billion ($6.2 billion) worth of Congressionally-approved authority to dip into US arms stocks for Ukraine, but given the growing row between the US and Ukraine, it was already unlikely for that assistance to be used.
But Trump also suggested that could still be agreed despite his frustration with Ukraine.
The Trump administration views a minerals deal as the US’ way of earning back some of the tens of billions of dollars it has given to Ukraine in financial and military aid since Russia invaded three years ago.
When asked on Tuesday if the deal was dead, Trump said at the White House: “No, I don’t think so.”
Trump described it as a “great deal for us” and said he would give an update on the situation on Wednesday night when he addresses a joint session of Congress.
In an interview on Fox News, US vice president JD Vance called on Zelenskyy to accept the minerals deal.
“If you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine,” he said.
Zelenskyy has made clear that a ceasefire must carry explicit security guarantees from the West to ensure Russia, which holds about 20 per cent of its land, does not attack again. Trump has refused to give any such guarantees.
