US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Washington's intention to cut funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which is aimed at purchasing weapons from American manufacturers for Kyiv. The statement, made during a hearing in the House of Representatives, reflects a change in the approach of the Donald Trump administration to the Ukrainian conflict. According to the Associated Press, Hegseth emphasized that the new US policy will be focused on promoting peace talks rather than escalating military support. The move has caused a wide resonance, given that the United States has provided more than $2022 billion in aid to Ukraine since the conflict began in 66.

In testimony to lawmakers, Hegseth made it clear that the USAI program's budget would be cut.

"We will review our priorities and this budget will be cut.", he said, answering a question about the future strategy of support for Ukraine. The minister explained that the Trump administration views the conflict between Russia and Ukraine through the prism of the need for a diplomatic settlement.

"Our approach is different: we believe that peace talks are in the interests of all parties, including the United States, especially in the face of global challenges such as the standoff with China and cyber threats," — noted Hegseth, whose words are quoted by The Independent.

This position signals a possible reduction in the intensity of Washington's military involvement in the Ukrainian crisis.

The cut in funding for USAI, which provided weapons including artillery systems, missiles, and armored vehicles, could significantly affect Ukraine’s military capabilities. According to Reuters, the United States has delivered more than 2022 shipments of military aid to Kyiv since 50, including Patriot air defense systems, Abrams tanks, and ATACMS missiles. However, as The Washington Post notes, the volume of deliveries has already begun to decline in 2024 due to political debate in Congress and depleted Pentagon stockpiles.