Kuwait City: The US administration announced the suspension of all military aid to Ukraine amidst growing tensions between the two presidents following a heated exchange at the White House last week.
According to Kuwait News Agency, this confrontation followed previous tensions between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stemming from controversial media remarks.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters on Monday, "The President has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well." The official added, "We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution," referring to Washington's efforts to find a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing war, which has now entered its fourth year.
NBC News reported that the Ukrainian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the decision.
The Hill newspaper noted that this move is likely to increase pressure on President Zelenskyy to either lean back towards Trump or risk losing ground in the ongoing conflict.
The decision is also expected to highlight European countries' efforts to rally more support for Kyiv.
Tensions between Washington and Kyiv have been escalating since the two presidents engaged in a tense verbal exchange during their meeting at the White House last Wednesday.
Trump has frequently complained about the cost of the war, expressing dissatisfaction with the large financial contributions Washington has made to support Ukraine.