U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on February 28, 2025.
Brian Snyder | Reuters
Defense strategists say Ukraine’s military aid has been halted after a spectacular situation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Vorodimir Zelensky, putting the country in an extremely unstable situation.
An anonymous White House official and U.S. official told CNBC’s partner network NBC News on Monday Military support has ceased When evaluating the situation.
Officials confirmed to NBC News and other media outlets: “The President is very clear that he is also focused on peace. We also need to be committed to this goal. We are suspending and reviewing our aid to ensure that this contributes to the solution.”
Neither the White House nor Ukraine publicly commented on the statement. CNBC has contacted to confirm the move and comment further and is awaiting a response.
If confirmed, this move would be unprecedented, but no surprise Extraordinary quarrel among Oval Office leaders on Fridayending with President Zelensky’s rapid departure from the White House A multi-billion dollar critical mineral unsigned.
Defense strategists say the outlook is undoubtedly negative if the United States withdraws all military support to Ukraine immediately, and Ukraine needs continuous weapons and ammunition to fight Russia after three years of war.
“This decision has nothing to do with economics. Fundamentally, Trump believes that Russia is willing to reach a peace agreement, and only Ukraine is the obstacle.” Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director of the Defense Think Tank, said Tuesday that the report was stopped in U.S. military aid.
“But there is no evidence that Russia is ready to accept the deal, and what that is. Indeed, this decision would encourage Putin to demand more – including non-military and neutrality in Ukraine.”
Chalmers noted that the “nightmare scenario” is that the United States and Russia soon announced a deal and then told Ukraine and Europe to “accept or leave it.”
Most importantly, Britain and Europe are ready to help Ukraine violate the distance of the United States, and recently estimated that only 20% of military hardware compared to Ukrainian forces, 55% of Ukraine are homes in Ukraine, while 25% of Europe are Europe and elsewhere, but the ultimate effort is difficult.
Donald Trump (L) and Russia’s Vladimir Putin attended a joint press conference after meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on July 16, 2018.
Yuri Kadobnov | AFP | Getty Images
The Kremlin has responded to the news on Tuesday, saying it hopes Ukraine can seek a peace deal as a result.
“Of course, we still need to learn the details. But if this decision does push the Kiev regime into a peace process.
“Is Ukraine destined now?”
Defense strategists at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said earlier this week that raised questions about whether the Trump administration could stop delivering military aid immediately, “Yes, at least in part to some extent.”
“The bad news is that now the U.S. funding for military aid to Ukraine is now exhausted. The good news is that if Trump allows, stable U.S. equipment will continue to flow to Ukraine from previously announced promises,” Mark F. Said in the analysis A question was published on Saturday: “Is Ukraine doomed to fail now?”
“The extraction equipment is still in transit. Despite the announcement issued by the previous administration, the Trump administration can still instruct the goods to stop,” they noted.
They pointed out: “What is more difficult is to stop the transportation of newly produced weapons from Ukraine’s contract with the defense industry, despite the funding provided by the United States. Legally, these weapons belong to Ukraine.
They pointed out that while the claim would be a daunting task, the Trump administration did not hesitate to “achiev its political goals.”
People gather in the Independence Square in the heart of Kiev to commemorate those who died in Russia – the Ukrainian War on its third anniversary, on February 24, 2025 in Kiev, Ukraine.
Danylo Antoniuk | Anadolu | Getty Images
They concluded that what happened on the battlefield depends to a large extent on the amount of equipment delivered.
“The most important thing is: Ukraine’s prospects are bleak. At the best of this, aid from the United States and Europe continues, which is enough to allow Ukraine to stabilize the frontline, blunt the Russian attacks, and buy time for negotiated settlements, perhaps Russia is more willing to deal with Russia because it has more than one million marks of casualties.”
In the worst case, the United States cut off the cargo of equipment. Ukraine receives from Europeans, other global sources and their industries, and what it receives will maintain its strength on site, but with the decline in capabilities. Russia’s attacks will gain more and more territory; at some point, the Ukrainian line will be broken. Ukraine will have to accept an unfavorable Ukraine.
The status of military aid
The status of Ukraine’s military aid is opaque, with some funds “committed” or “obligated” but not “paid” yet. CSIS strategists point out that because the equipment takes time to produce, there can be a long delay between the obligation and payment phase, and as the equipment is delivered, manufacturers will get progress payments over time.
Ukrainian soldiers prepare a vehicle to adapt to fire helicopter shells, and the Russian-Ukrainian war continues to move towards the Ukrainian Toretsk on August 19, 2024.
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images
There is a disheartening argument between Trump and European allies about the amount of military aid provided by Ukraine, whether military, humanitarian or economic aid, although the painting is vague about what funds and support is allocated.
The Kiel Institute for the World Institute for World Evance is widely regarded as Ukraine’s accurate, impartial source tracking funds, summarizing the aid pictures in February’s latest assessment:
“The whole of Europe has clearly surpassed the United States in terms of aid in Ukraine. In total, Europe has allocated 70 billion euros ($73.6 billion) in financial and humanitarian aid, as well as 62 billion euros in military aid. This compares to 64 billion euros and 50 billion euros in financial and human funding allocations in U.S. military aid.”
Can Europe break into loopholes?
Tensions between Washington and Kiev have been steadily rising since Trump took office in January, further When the United States begins preliminary talks with Russiaexcluding Ukraine, is the road to peace.
Trump has threatened to withdraw our support for the war-hardened nation if Zelenskyy does not sign the coveted critical minerals to deal with the United States and tells him Friday: “You either make a deal or we’re out.”
European leaders have Fighting in a hurry In the post-war scene, discuss what role they can play in Ukraine and what ongoing support they can provide to Kiev.
The group appears ready to fill any defense spending gaps between the United States and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Announce plan Increased defense spending may mobilize as much as 800 billion euros.
“Europe is ready to significantly increase its defense spending. Both should address the short-term urgency of taking action and supporting Ukraine, while also addressing the long-term need to take more responsibility for our own European security,” she said in a press statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron held a meeting after a meeting at Lancaster Building in central London, England on March 2, 2025.
Justin Tallis | By Reuters
but Given that Keefe and Europe clearly rule out early talks on how to end the warand because there is no security guarantee, the United States provides clarity for Ukraine, the perception of European roles seems uncertain.
If the United States ceases all military aid transport to Ukraine, the move will firmly put the ball in the European Court of Justice to understand how, to what extent, and whether they are willing to step in the breach to help Ukraine.
CSIS strategists stress that the United States is not the only equipment supplier in Ukraine.
“As the Kiel Institute of Germany calculated, Europe’s military aid to Ukraine is comparable to that of the U.S. military aid, about $1.8 billion a month. Europe was particularly critical in late 2023 and early 2024, when the amount of European aid was particularly important when the U.S. controversy over the next aid package,” they noted. ”
“EU, too Officially recognized Use frozen Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine’s military needs. The bad news is that Europeans are already offering as much as possible given the deterioration of their defense industry. In addition, if the United States stops aid, many European countries may also reduce it. ” they said.
