Donald Trump Temporarily Suspends U.S. Military Aid to Ukraine After Clash with Zelensky

On Monday, March 3, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a temporary pause in American military aid to Ukraine, just three days after a tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. The decision followed a high-level meeting with key defense and diplomatic officials, under the supervision of the president’s senior advisers.

“We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure it contributes to finding a solution to the conflict” between Ukraine and Russia, said a senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The president has made it clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to commit to achieving that goal as well,” the official added.

Growing Tensions Between Washington and Kyiv

This military aid, largely approved under the Biden administration, has been mostly delivered, although some equipment and weapons remain to be shipped. According to the State Department, the U.S. has provided nearly $65.9 billion in military assistance to Ukraine between February 2022 and January 2025.

Relations between the two leaders deteriorated further after their verbal altercation, with Trump accusing Zelensky of “not wanting peace” with Russia. The U.S. president escalated his criticism, warning that he would “not tolerate” Ukraine’s stance for much longer. In an interview with Fox News, Vice President JD Vance echoed this sentiment, stating that Zelensky had “clearly refused to engage in the peace process” sought by Trump.

A Path Back to Negotiations?

Despite the heightened tensions, the Trump administration has indicated that the suspension of aid is only temporary. The president also suggested that the agreement on Ukrainian mineral access, which Zelensky was expected to sign in Washington, could still be finalized.

For his part, Zelensky reaffirmed his commitment to finding a swift diplomatic resolution to the conflict. “It is very important that we try to make our diplomacy truly substantial to end this war as soon as possible,” he said in a video released Monday evening, emphasizing that the lack of security guarantees had enabled Russia to escalate its aggression.

The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the two leaders can rebuild dialogue and navigate this major diplomatic crisis.