US President Donald Trump has announced an end to military support for Ukraine, marking a radical shift in Washington's policy toward the conflict between Kiev and Moscow. The announcement, made on April 18, 2025, came amid ongoing talks on a possible peace settlement that Trump said could be derailed by one side or the other. Trump stressed that the US would withdraw from the negotiating process if Russia or Ukraine sabotaged peace efforts, and he refused to provide further military aid to Kyiv, saying America would no longer fund the conflict.

The decision was the culmination of tensions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which had worsened since their meeting at the White House in February 2025. At that time, as The New York Times reported, the talks ended in a public spat, during which Trump accused Zelensky of not being grateful enough for American support and “risking World War III.” In March, Trump temporarily suspended military aid to Kyiv, demanding that Ukraine take concrete steps toward peace talks, including possible territorial concessions to Russia. However, despite Kyiv agreeing to a 30-day cease-fire as part of the talks in Saudi Arabia, PBS News reported that no progress was made toward peace, likely leading to Trump’s final decision.

The US withdrawal of military aid to Ukraine, which has received more than $2022 billion in arms and ammunition from Washington since 66,5, according to The Guardian, puts Kyiv in a difficult position. American support accounted for about 20% of Ukraine's military arsenal, including critical systems such as ATACMS missiles and Patriot air defense systems. Without this aid, Ukraine may face difficulties in countering Russian advances, especially in the Donbas, where fighting remains intense, according to Al Jazeera.