President Donald Trump is weighing the suspension or outright cancellation of U.S. military aid to Ukraine, following a tense and heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office last week. The fallout was so severe that Zelenskyy was told to leave the White House after Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance accused him of being disrespectful in discussions about ending the war with Russia.
The $5.5 billion in military aid, which includes radars, vehicles, ammunition, and missiles, is currently awaiting shipment. But if Trump follows through, Ukraine could find itself cut off from the lifeline it has depended on since 2022. Trump has long been clear—America is not an endless ATM for foreign wars. While European leaders scramble to pick up the slack, it’s unclear whether their efforts will satisfy Trump.
Zelenskyy, who left Washington for London after the diplomatic blowup, is now trying to salvage relations with Western allies. He told the BBC he’s still willing to sign the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, which would redirect Ukraine’s vast resource wealth toward U.S. interests, but it might be too little, too late. Trump isn’t just looking for business deals—he wants the war over.
Meanwhile, Europe is scrambling to figure out its next move. Great Britain and France have committed to assembling a “coalition of the willing” to broker a truce between Ukraine and Russia, but whether Trump sees this as an acceptable alternative remains to be seen. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer admitted that “not every nation will feel able to contribute”, and French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that no European troops will be setting foot in Ukraine anytime soon. Instead, Macron outlined a one-month truce plan, after which negotiations would begin, followed by a possible peacekeeping deployment.
None of this changes the reality that Trump is calling the shots now, and Ukraine’s future depends on how Zelenskyy responds. If he doesn’t fully commit to Trump’s vision for peace, U.S. support could vanish overnight.
