After more than a week of aggressive rhetoric against Kyiv and personally against its leader, Trump has pulled the plug on aid to Ukraine and ordered the cessation of American military assistance to Kyiv. Analysts and officials estimate that this move could have devastating consequences for Ukraine’s operational dynamics. This marks a significant escalation in the conflict between the U.S. and Ukraine, increasing pressure on Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sign an economic agreement with Trump allowing access to critical mineral resources in his country and agree to peace talks without the security guarantees he seeks to end the war. Following his confrontation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Oval Office on February 28, 2025, a White House official stated that Trump hopes this action will push Zelenskyy to engage in peace negotiations with Russia after the Ukrainian president said ending the war is ‘still very, very far.’ ‘We are pausing and will reassess our aid to ensure it contributes to seeking a solution’ to the armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the official stated. ‘The President has made clear his focus is on peace. We need partners who are also committed to achieving this goal,’ they added. Speaking to reporters during a press conference at the White House, the U.S. president stated that Zelenskyy won’t be around much longer if he doesn’t make a deal with Russia. The suspension of military support will remain in effect until Trump judges that his Ukrainian counterpart is ‘seriously pursuing’ peace talks. Essentially, Washington is forcing Ukraine to the negotiating table with threats of further losses on the battlefield. Notably, although Trump hasn’t approved new aid packages for Ukraine, millions of dollars worth of military equipment previously authorized under the Biden administration remains in various stages of delivery to Ukraine, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, U.S. aid has included air defense systems, heavy vehicles, and munitions. According to a list provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 20, as reported by The Guardian, Ukraine was receiving systems like Patriot missile batteries, Nasams, Hawk systems and ammunition, over 3,000 anti-aircraft missiles Stinger, enhanced with 21 airborne surveillance radars and equipment integrating Western launchers and missiles into Ukrainian systems.