President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine visited the White House to meet with President Donald Trump, aware that the flow of weapons and military hardware from the United States to Ukraine had come to an end. After the meeting, which included a televised argument between the two leaders, the situation appeared more severe. It had been 50 days since the Pentagon announced a new package of weapons for Ukraine, and the new administration had been silent about providing more aid.
A Trump administration official later stated that all U.S. aid to Ukraine, including the last shipments of ammunition and equipment authorized and paid for during the Biden administration, could be canceled soon. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, shipments of military hardware from the United States were announced frequently during the Biden administration. Approximately $3.85 billion remains authorized by Congress for additional withdrawals from the Defense Department’s stockpile, with the last of the arms Ukraine purchased from U.S. defense companies set to be shipped in the next six months. After that, it will be up to European and other countries to continue supporting Ukraine’s military efforts.
Mr. Trump has called for “payback” for military aid and had planned to sign an agreement with Ukraine that would grant the United States access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. However, Mr. Zelensky left the White House without an agreement, and Ukraine continues to face attacks from Russian and North Korean troops along a 600-mile front line. Ukraine has relied heavily on arms from the United States throughout the war, starting with a $350 million aid package announced by the Biden administration the day after Russia’s invasion.
After the Oval Office meeting, a Trump administration official suggested that the president might end indirect support for Ukraine, including military financing, intelligence sharing, training for Ukrainian troops and pilots, and managing international aid at a U.S. military base in Germany. This would mark a significant departure from the support that had survived a challenge from House Republicans over a year ago.
European nations have contributed more to Ukraine’s war effort than the United States, with $138 billion compared to $119 billion in military and humanitarian assistance from the U.S., according to data from the Kiel Institute. Once U.S.-funded purchases of arms end, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of roughly 50 nations, will become the main source of military assistance for Ukraine.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/us/politics/trump-ukraine-weapons.html
