🇺🇸🇺🇦 The Biden-to-Trump transition has begun reshaping U.S. foreign policy, with Washington now halting key weapons shipments to Ukraine — a move triggering urgent diplomatic responses in Kyiv and drawing applause from Moscow.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the U.S. chargé d’affaires after the sudden pause, warning that “any delay or suspension of military aid only encourages Russia to pursue war over peace.” Presidential advisor Dmytro Litvin stated that Ukraine is seeking “clear information” from Washington, expecting answers in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the decision as a step that could “bring the end of the conflict closer,” emphasizing that the fewer weapons Ukraine receives, the quicker Moscow can conclude its “special military operation.”
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense confirmed it had received no prior notification of the suspension and stressed that defeating the Russian invasion requires “consistent and joint pressure on the aggressor,” urging for uninterrupted support.
A Ukrainian military source told *AFP* that “we are heavily reliant on U.S. arms, and without them, even with European efforts, our ability to resist will be significantly diminished.”
This geopolitical shift follows President Donald Trump’s earlier pledge — made both during his campaign and upon taking office in January — to “end the war between Ukraine and Russia.” Since then, diplomatic backchannels between Washington and Moscow have reopened.
In February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Trump at the White House, but their tense public altercation led to an abrupt end to the visit. The two eventually met again in Rome during the funeral of Pope Francis.
Despite the friction, Ukraine and the U.S. recently signed a deal giving Washington access to investment opportunities in Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, a strategic resource amid shifting alliances and global supply chain concerns.
As Kyiv braces for potential escalations, this policy turn could reshape the entire course of the war — and diplomacy — in Eastern Europe.
