In brief
A tense meeting between President Zelensky and former President Trump reveals the future of US support for Ukraine hangs in the balance, leaving many concerned.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine arrived at the White House on Friday for a crucial meeting with Donald Trump, realizing that the previously consistent flow of US weapons to his country had virtually ceased. The atmosphere became even colder during their televised exchange, fueled by Trump’s position on using further aid as political leverage. It had been 50 days since the Pentagon last announced a new arms package for Ukraine. The former president’s administration hinted that all remaining US military assistance, including shipments already authorized by Biden's administration, could be at risk of cancellation. This comes in stark contrast to the previous Biden era, where military hardware shipments were common, often occurring every few weeks. Currently, according to Pentagon sources, around $3.85 billion remains from previous congressional authorizations for Ukraine. A former senior defense official pointed out that the last of the arms ordered by Ukraine from US defense companies might be delivered within six months, raising worries about the near future of Ukrainian defense against Russia’s ongoing aggression.
