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US President Donald Trump has paused all aid to Ukraine till as much time as it takes to determine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's commitment to ending the war with Russia, according to multiple US media reports.
Citing unidentified officials, Fox News reported the order is coming shortly.
President Trump will address the issue of Ukraine in his address to a joint session of the US Congress on Tuesday evening, hours after his tariff hikes of 25 per cent go into effect on imports from Canada and Mexico, and 20 per cent on goods from China.
Asked at a White House what it would take to resume negotiations with Ukraine — for a deal to secure rights to the country’s vast resources of rare earth minerals after it broke down in a fiery exchange with President Zelenskyy at an Oval Office meeting, Trump said, “I just think you should be more appreciative because this country has stuck with them through thick and thin.”
When asked about President Zelenskyy’s comments in London, where he expressed concerns that the war with Russia could drag on for a long time, President Trump said he hoped the Ukrainian leader was mistaken. He further stated that Russia wanted to end the war, as did the people of Ukraine, aiming to create a distinction between Zelenskyy and his nation, a stance that is gaining traction among his Republican supporters.
A few weeks ago, Trump had referred to Zelenskyy as a dictator and suggested that he was not calling for elections because he feared defeat.
After the Friday blow-up in the Oval Office, Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator who has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine’s fight back against the 2022 Russian invasion but who is also known to be a fickle ally and friend at home and abroad, called for Zelenskyy to step down.
Zelensky, who has said he only answers to Ukrainian voters, offered Graham Ukrainian citizenship so he could actually vote to oust him.
(With IANS inputs)
