Military financing has been stopped, and officials are meeting to consider suspending another type of assistance
The Trump administration has halted funding for new weapons sales to Ukraine and is considering freezing arms shipments from U.S. stockpiles, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The pause on arms financing aligns with the administration’s broader freeze on foreign aid, but the latest move to potentially cut off military support follows a heated Oval Office exchange on Friday between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The meeting ended abruptly, with Zelenskyy leaving the White House ahead of schedule, according to U.S. officials cited by the WSJ.
A White House meeting on Monday reportedly addressed whether to further restrict weapons transfers to Ukraine. Participants included Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, The Washington Post reported.
Friday’s meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy was expected to result in the signing of a critical minerals development agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine—a step Trump viewed as essential to advancing peace efforts between Kyiv and Moscow. However, the contentious exchange led to the cancellation of a scheduled luncheon and press conference.
Although Secretary of State Rubio has signed a waiver exempting Ukraine from the foreign aid freeze, the State Department has yet to notify the Pentagon, effectively leaving Ukraine cut off from receiving weapons under the Foreign Military Financing program, according to the WSJ.
Ukraine has multiple avenues to secure U.S. weapons, but the most critical has been presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to transfer arms from its own stockpiles. Even if Trump proceeds with further restrictions, Ukrainian forces are expected to have sufficient weapons to sustain operations against Russia through mid-2025, thanks in part to a major arms transfer completed under the Biden administration.
The fate of the critical minerals deal remains uncertain. Trump is expected to address the matter in his Tuesday night speech before Congress, while Zelenskyy has expressed a willingness to proceed with signing the agreement despite Friday’s diplomatic fallout.
New details have emerged in the investigation of the devastating fire at the Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, which kill...
Demonstrations were held in several major European cities in solidarity with ongoing protests in Iran, as anger mounts over worsening economic conditi...
The number of prisoners freed in Venezuela has increased to 18, human rights organisations reported on Saturday, up from nine on Friday afternoon....
Iran’s security forces have intensified their crackdown on nationwide protests, with the elite Revolutionary Guards warning that safeguarding securi...
The death toll from a landfill collapse in the central Philippines has risen to four, an official confirmed on Saturday, as rescue teams continued the...
Kyiv's water and heating systems were restored after being temporarily shut down due to the intense cold, as engineers worked to stabilise the power grid, which had been pushed to the brink by a series of Russian strikes, including one two nights ago.
The governor of Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, reported that 600,000 residents are currently without power, heating, or water following a missile strike by Ukraine on Saturday.
Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv early on Friday (9 January) killed at least 4 people, injured at least 19, and caused significant damage to residential buildings and critical infrastructure, Ukrainian officials said.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the broader geopolitical tensions surrounding territorial disputes and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant have drawn significant international attention.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out ordering a mission to capture Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he is confident the war in Ukraine can be brought to an end.
New York City parents could soon have access to free childcare for two-year-old children following a joint announcement made by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday (8 January).
Türkiye has stepped back from mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan after repeated efforts failed to narrow deep differences between Islamabad and Kabul.
Türkiye is reportedly in discussions to join the defence alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a strategic move that could reshape security dynamics in the Middle East and South Asia.
Iran does not seek war with Israel or the United States but is prepared to respond if attacked, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday (8 January ) as economic protests sweep the country and Tehran's crackdown reportedly intensifies.
Slovakia will sign an agreement on nuclear power cooperation with the United States next week, announced Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Saturday, as the country progresses towards a deal to construct a new nuclear power unit with U.S. assistance.
The Nicaraguan government announced on Saturday that it had freed dozens of inmates from the country’s national penitentiary system, following pressure from the U.S. for the release of more than 60 political prisoners.
New details have emerged in the investigation of the devastating fire at the Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, which killed 40 people on New Year’s Eve. Authorities have revealed that a service door in the basement was locked from the inside.
Demonstrations were held in several major European cities in solidarity with ongoing protests in Iran, as anger mounts over worsening economic conditions and soaring food prices amid a nationwide communications blackout.
The number of prisoners freed in Venezuela has increased to 18, human rights organisations reported on Saturday, up from nine on Friday afternoon.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment