Ukraine says it will do all it can to maintain US ties after Trump pauses aid

On Tuesday, Ukraine stated that it would do everything possible to preserve its relationship with the United States, following President Donald Trump halting military assistance to Kyiv in the most significant action yet in his shift towards strengthening relations with Russia.

Trump has disrupted U.S. policy regarding Ukraine and Russia, leading to a dramatic showdown at the White House on Friday, where Trump chastised President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for not showing enough appreciation for Washington’s support.

“President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution,” a U.S. official said on Monday .

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Kyiv still had the means to supply its frontline forces. U.S. military aid was precious and saving thousands of lives, he said, and Kyiv would do all it could to maintain relations with Washington.

“We will continue to work with the U.S. through all available channels in a calm manner,” Shmyhal told a press conference. “We only have one plan – to win and to survive. Either we win, or the plan B will be written by someone else.”

The Kremlin has asserted that halting military assistance to Ukraine represents the most effective step toward achieving peace, although it is still awaiting confirmation of Trump’s decision. Military analysts indicate that the repercussions of the absence of U.S. aid may take time to manifest on the battlefield.

When U.S. support was delayed for several months last year due to Republican actions in Congress, the most immediate consequence was a lack of air defense systems capable of intercepting incoming Russian missiles and drones. Subsequently, Ukrainian forces in the eastern regions reported shortages of ammunition, particularly for artillery.

This situation intensifies the pressure on European allies, particularly Britain and France, whose leaders visited the White House last week and have publicly supported Zelenskiy following the recent tensions in the Oval Office.

European nations are hastening to increase their military expenditures and provide alternative assistance to Kyiv, including plans to deploy troops on the ground to facilitate any ceasefire, although they maintain that some form of U.S. support is still necessary.

 France has condemned the suspension of aid, stating that halting arms to Ukraine makes peace “more distant, as it only empowers the aggressor on the ground, which is Russia,” according to Benjamin Haddad, the French junior minister for Europe. In contrast, Britain has taken a more cautious stance, with a government spokesperson affirming London’s commitment to achieving peace in Ukraine.