The US’ decision to pause military aid coincided with a Russian drone attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Here is how the Russian government has responded to the US President Donald Trump’s decision to pause all military aid to neighbouring Ukraine.
International relations have been spiralling since Trump’s disastrous meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday (28 February) at the White House, which saw the US leader tell Zelenskyy he was ‘gambling with World War III’ during an explosive televised argument.
The US government had been providing extensive military support to Ukraine since Russia invaded the eastern part of the country on 24 February, 2022, with Joe Biden’s administration providing the Kyiv government with $66.5 billion (£52.3 billion) in military aid before the end of his term.
Meaning that Trump’s decision to suspend support – which the administration supports their broader aim of ‘peace’ in the region – will come as a major blow to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy’s government is yet to respond publicly to the move, however Russia’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has, branding Trump’s decision ‘the best contribution to the cause of peace.’
“It is obvious that the United States has been the main supplier of this war so far. If the United States stops being (an arms supplier) or suspends these supplies, it will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace,” the Kremlin spokesperson said, via Reuters.
The move was also backed by foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov who called the president’s statements on Ukraine ‘common sense’.
Statements from the Kremlin praising Trump’s dedication to peace come amid reports that Russian military forces launched an overnight drone attack against energy infrastructure near the southern city of Odesa, injuring four people.
“A strike has damaged energy infrastructure, there are power cuts in parts of the city,” regional governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram, via Sky News.
Various leaders have since reaction to the US decision to pause aid, with a UK government spokesperson saying Britain remains ‘absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine’.
Meanwhile, Vice-President JD Vance has doubled-down on his and Trump’s stance regarding Ukraine, saying the Eastern European country needs to give the US an economic interest in the region.
“If you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine,” he said.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister has since said the country was ‘very grateful’ for US support and was still committed to signing the minerals agreement.
Vance also criticised the decision of Britain and France to volunteer peacekeeping forces to the region, claiming the military forces from both nations hadn’t ‘fought a war in 30 or 40 years’.
