Trump Halts Military Assistance to Ukraine Following Heated Oval Office Dispute

Effective immediately, the suspension impacts over $1 billion in weapons and ammunition that were either in the process of being delivered or already on order.

On Monday, President Trump issued a temporary suspension on all military assistance from the United States to Ukraine, according to senior administration and military officials. This decision follows a tense and heated exchange between Mr. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House just days prior.

The order halts the transfer of more than $1 billion in arms and ammunition, affecting both existing pipeline shipments and pending orders. According to officials, who spoke under conditions of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, the directive was issued after multiple high-level meetings between Mr. Trump and his senior national security advisors at the White House on Monday.

Officials stated that the suspension would remain in effect until President Trump determined that Ukraine had demonstrated a genuine commitment to peace negotiations with Russia.

This move by Mr. Trump significantly intensifies the rift between Washington and Kyiv at a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict. The immediate beneficiary of this decision is Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, who could exploit the pause to further solidify his territorial advances. A prolonged suspension could provide Mr. Putin with the opportunity to stall any negotiations, under the assumption that extended tensions between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky would ultimately work in his favor—either strategically on the battlefield or in future cease-fire discussions.

Few direct precedents exist in modern U.S. foreign policy for such an action. While past administrations have temporarily halted the transfer of specific weapons systems to allied nations—such as President Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s decision to withhold 2,000-pound bombs from Israel due to concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza—this sweeping suspension functions as an ultimatum. It places Mr. Zelensky in a difficult position, forcing him to either accept a cease-fire on Mr. Trump's terms or face the prospect of greater battlefield losses.

The decision also places the United States at odds with key NATO allies. Major European nations, including France, Britain, and Germany, have recently reaffirmed their commitment to increasing military support for Ukraine. However, despite their pledges, these nations lack the immediate stockpiles necessary to fully compensate for the shortfall created by the U.S. suspension.

Mr. Trump’s directive, initially reported by Bloomberg News, also puts a hold on equipment shipments from Pentagon reserves as well as assistance provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. This initiative funds Ukraine’s direct purchases of new military hardware from American defense contractors. As of now, it remains unclear what specific conditions Mr. Zelensky would need to meet in order for Mr. Trump to reinstate military aid.

Increasingly aligning himself with Mr. Putin’s perspective on the war, Mr. Trump has made inaccurate claims suggesting that Ukraine instigated the conflict. He has also labeled Mr. Zelensky, a democratically elected leader, as a “dictator.”

Conversely, Mr. Trump has praised Mr. Putin, referring to him as “smart” and “cunning,” while avoiding labeling him a dictator. In recent discussions, Mr. Trump has reflected on a shared experience with Mr. Putin, referencing the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. Despite American intelligence agencies concluding that Russian operatives actively worked to influence the election in Mr. Trump’s favor, he has consistently dismissed these findings, calling them part of the “Russia hoax.”

Tensions between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky reached a boiling point on Friday during what was supposed to be a signing ceremony at the White House. The agreement in question involved Ukraine transferring rare mineral rights as repayment for U.S. military aid provided over the past three years. However, instead of finalizing the deal, Mr. Trump, alongside Vice President JD Vance, publicly chastised Mr. Zelensky, accusing him of insufficient gratitude for American support.

The status of the minerals deal remains uncertain.

On Monday, Mr. Trump commented on the matter, stating that he did not believe the agreement was entirely off the table. He described it as a “great deal for us” but emphasized that there was one crucial action he needed to see from Mr. Zelensky before discussions could resume.