US President Donald Trump meets the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House on February 28, 2025.
Brian Snyder Reuters
The US military assistance for Ukraine was suspended after the spectacular fall between President Donald Trump and the leader of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, leaving the country in an extremely uncertain situation, the defense strategists say.
Anonymous White House official and US clerk said NBC Network NBC Network NBC News on Monday that military support was suspended during the assessment of the situation.
“The president was clear that he was focused on the room. We also need our partners to get involved for this purpose. We stop and browse our help to ensure that it contributes to the solution, “was confirmed by officials in NBC News and other media.
The White House has not publicly commented on the statement, but the Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Tuesday gave Kiiva reaction. He started thanks to the US for his support and said that Kiev “works and does everything to provide our armed forces with everything they need.”
“Regardless of the discussion on the possibility of stopping (military assistance) – we will absolutely calmly cooperate with the USA, Congress, with the administration of Trump and him personally through all available diplomatic channels, so that Ukraine and the United States continue our fight for a fair, stable peace in Ukraine, on the European continent.”
If the confirmation of help is confirmed, the movement would be unheard of, but not surprising Unusual spray between the leaders in the Oval Office on Fridaywhich ended when President Zelenskyy leaves the White House in a hurry and Critical minerals worth many billions of dollars deal with non -signaling.
Defense strategists say that if the US immediately withdraw all military support for Ukraine, which requires the continuous flow of weapons and ammunition to fight Russia after three years of war, the perspective is undoubtedly negative.
“This decision does not apply to economics. It is basically driven by Trump that Russia is willing to make a peace agreement, and only Ukraine is an obstacle, “Malcolm Chalmers, deputy general director at Think Tank Rusia, said on Tuesday in response to submitted military assistance.
“But there is no evidence that Russia would be prepared to accept the contract and what it would be. Indeed, this decision will encourage Putin to ask for more – including Ukrainian demilitarization and neutrality, “he said in the comments e -Mail.
Chalmers noticed that the “nightmare script” is now that the US and Russia will soon announce a contract and then speak to Ukraine and Europe to “take or leave”.
“Most often it will be how far the United Kingdom and Europe are prepared to help Ukraine in contradictions with the recent US estimates suggest that only 20% of total military equipment provided to Ukrainian forces is now from the USA, 55% is produced at home in Ukraine, and 25% from Europe and the rest of the world, but 20% is the most Lethal and important accumulated,” he said.
Donald Trump (L) and Russian Vladimir Putin come to a joint press conference after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, July 16, 2018.
Yuri Kadobnov AFP Getty images
The Kremlin has already reacted to messages on Tuesday, saying that he hoped that Ukraine would be encouraged to look for a peace agreement.
“Of course, we still have to learn the details. But if this is true, this decision may actually push the Kiev regime towards the peace process,* press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday, according to the translation of NBC News.
“Is Ukraine now doomed to destruction?”
The question of whether the Trump administration can stop the immediate shipment of military assistance, defense strategists at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said at the beginning of this week: “Yes, at least partly”.
“The bad news is that American funds for military assistance in Ukraine are now exhausted. The good news is that the permanent stream of American equipment will continue to flow to Ukraine from previously announced obligations – if Trump allows it “, Mark F. Cancian and Chris H. Park, he said in the analysis Published on Saturday, which asked the question: “Is Ukraine now doomed to destruction?”
“Equipment for pulling out is still sent. The Trump administration could direct that the parcels stop despite the announcements of the previous administration, “they noted.
“It would be more difficult to stop the parcels of the newly produced weapons from the Ukraine contracts signed with the defensive industry, although with funds provided by the United States. Depended by the United States, which belong to Ukraine “, with the proviso that Trump's team” may be able to redirect deliveries to the US forces “, using protocols that cite” national requirements “.
Although this claim would be a episode, Trump's administration did not hesitate to use the emergency authorities “for its political purposes”, they noted.
People gather at Independence Square in the center of Kiev to commemorate people killed in Russia – war in Ukraine on the third anniversary, in Kiev, Ukraine on February 24, 2025.
Danylo Antoniuk Anadol Getty images
What happens on the battlefield in the future depends largely on the amount of equipment supplied.
“The most important: prospects for Ukraine are gloomy. At best, the US and European assistance continues, which is sufficient to stabilize the front line, blunt Russian attacks and buy time for a negotiated settlement, perhaps with Russia more willing to conclude a contract when its victims transfer 1 million characters. “
“In the worst case, the United States cuts off equipment. What Ukraine receives from Europeans, other global sources, and its own industry will keep its strength in the field, but with the fall of possibilities. Russian attacks will gain more and more territory; At some point, Ukrainian lines will break.
Military assistance status
The status of military assistance to Ukraine is opaque, and some funds “committed” or “obliged”, but not yet “withdrawals”. There may be long delays between the stages of liabilities and payments, because the equipment requires time, and the manufacturers receive payments over time as the equipment is delivered, the CSIS strategists noticed.
Ukrainian soldiers are preparing a vehicle adapted for helicopter fire, when the Russia-Ukraine war continues towards Tretsk in Ukraine, on August 19, 2024.
Anadol Anadol Getty images
There was a refusing argument between Trump and European allies regarding the amount of military assistance granted Ukraine, whether military, humanitarian or financial, although the picture is dark as to what funds and support were assigned.
The Institute of World Kielowa Kielowa, widely seen as accurate and impartial funds for tracking sources of Ukraine, summed up the image of help in its last assessment in February:
“Europe as a whole clearly overtook the US in terms of Ukrainian help. In total, Europe allocated EUR 70 billion (73.6 billion dollars) financial and humanitarian assistance, as well as EUR 62 billion in military assistance. Compared to EUR 64 billion in military assistance from the USA, as well as EUR 50 billion in financial and humanitarian albums. “
Can Europe enter a violation?
The tensions between Washington and Kijiv have been constantly growing since the inauguration of Trump in January and further When the US began initial talks with Russiaexcluding Ukraine, on the path to the room.
Trump has already threatened that he would withdraw our support for the country, if Zelenskyy did not sign the long -term critical minerals from the USA, saying on Friday: “either you conclude a contract or we leave.”
European leaders already had He got in hastily To discuss the role they could play in Ukraine – and what continuous support can be given to Kijiv – in a post -war scenario that could be pushed into the country.
The block seems to be preparing to fill out all the gap in the field of defense by the USA with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday Announcement of plans To increase defense expenses that can potentially mobilize up to EUR 800 billion.
“Europe is ready to increase defense expenses massively. Both to respond to short-term urgency of action and support of Ukraine, but also to obtain a long-term need to gain greater responsibility for their own European security, “she said in a press statement.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Prime Minister of Great Britain Keir Starmer and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, took the meeting during the summit at Lancaster House in Centrum London in Great Britain on March 2, 2025.
Justin Tallis By Reuters
But Considering the apparent exclusion of Kiev and Europe from early conversations about the end of the warWithout any security guarantees specified by the US for Ukraine, the prospect is not certain what the role of Europe will be.
If the US stops all military assistance parcels to Ukraine, this movement puts the ball in a court in Europe, to what extent and whether they are ready to enter into a violation to help Ukraine.
CSIS strategists emphasize that the US is not the only equipment supplier in Ukraine.
“According to the German Kilont Institute, European military assistance to Ukraine was comparable to the help of the United States, about $ 1.8 billion per month. European assistance was particularly critical at the end of 2023 and at the beginning of 2024, when the United States lacked funds, while the Congress debated in the next help package, “they noted.
“European Union also approved The use of frozen Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine's military needs. The bad news is that Europeans already provide as much as possible, taking into account the deterioration of their defense industry. In addition, if the United States stop helping, many European countries will probably pay back, “they said.