The United States has temporarily paused its military aid to Ukraine, a White House official has confirmed to CBS News.  

The official stated that the aid is being reviewed to ensure it is “contributing to a solution,” amid growing scrutiny over US support for Kyiv. 

The US has been Ukraine’s largest military backer since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, providing weapons, equipment, and financial assistance.  

The announcement comes just hours after former President Donald Trump criticised Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky for stating that an end to the war remains “very, very far away.”  

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a four-point strategy to support Ukraine, but European leaders at a summit on Sunday expressed concerns that peace efforts could falter without US involvement.  

Steven Pifer, a former US Ambassador to Ukraine, called the decision to pause aid “very wrongheaded,” warning it will eventually affect the battlefield.  

He added, “President Trump has tons of leverage on Russia if he wants to use it. He could tighten sanctions or work with the G7 to seize $300bn in Russian Central Bank assets for Ukraine.”

Criticising Trump’s stance, Pifer remarked, *”For someone who talks about the art of the deal, he’s done nothing to increase his leverage with Putin. Instead, he seems to be coming down hard on the wrong party.”

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