White House Silent on Ukraine Aid as Trump Team Pressures Kyiv, Spares Moscow

There are apparently no serious discussions taking place in the White House or Congress about further military support for Ukraine, as the previous aid packages approved during Joe Biden’s presidency near their expiration.

The New York Times (NYT) reports, citing Ukraine supporters in the US Congress, that even though the current military and financial support package is running out, neither the White House nor those on Capitol Hill are seriously engaging in talks about future aid packages.

“European officials say they have not even received assurances that the United States will continue its extensive intelligence sharing for Ukraine, which has been key to its ability to target Russian troops and infrastructure,” the report reads.

NYT emphasizes that when the White House discusses its relationship with Ukraine today, it speaks more about what the US stands to gain than what it plans to provide.

Following recent events in the Oval Office, the US and Ukraine are reportedly revisiting an agreement related to American investments and access to Ukrainian mineral resources.

One such example is an agreement on access to Ukraine’s strategic natural resources, which is now under active review. It took nearly six weeks to revise the document.

“The deal Mr. Trump covets is one with Russia. But getting there requires getting past Ukraine - either by declaring a cease-fire, or just setting the problem aside,” NYT writes.

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Zelensky Says NATO, PURL Guarantee, Key in Defeating Russia’s ‘Final Argument’ – Ballistic Missiles

President Volodymyr Zelensky said ballistic missiles have become Russia’s “final argument” in its war against Ukraine and expressed the need for stronger air defenses and long-term security financing. He highlighted contributions to the PURL program, joint weapons production and talks with NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte on durable financial guarantees, adding that timely partner support could push Moscow towards a “fair and dignified peace.”

Meanwhile, a source close to the Ukrainian government told Axios they fear that US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from negotiations could lead to a suspension of US military aid to Ukraine.

Axios, citing American and European officials familiar with the talks, reports that the US is pressuring Ukraine to end the war, while avoiding any increase in pressure on Russia.

According to the report, Trump is now frustrated with the lack of progress in the negotiations and is ready to abandon the US role as mediator. In a private conversation, he reportedly expressed disappointment that the talks were not seeming to lead anywhere.

An informed US official told Axios that if an agreement is not reached soon, Trump will shift his focus to other areas of foreign policy. The US president himself has not set a deadline or announced any specific steps beyond a potential withdrawal from the negotiations.

“We need to figure out... within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term. If it’s not, then I think we’re just going to move on,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, referring to efforts to end the war.

One European diplomat told Axios that Rubio did not specify what “moving on” would entail, but emphasized that the US wanted rapid progress.

Two other European diplomats confirmed that Rubio had made it clear Trump was losing patience and could walk away from the process if no agreement is reached soon.

Three European diplomats believe Rubio’s comments were primarily directed at Ukraine. A source close to the Ukrainian government also said the statements were meant to put pressure on Kyiv.

European diplomats also noted that during the Paris meetings, Rubio made no mention of increasing pressure on Russia.

“The impression was that Rubio and Witkoff are under a lot of pressure from Trump, and they are channeling it to the other players,” one European diplomat shared.

According to the report, Ukraine quickly agreed to Trump’s plan for a 30-day ceasefire, but Russia was slow to accept the proposal, claiming it was winning on the battlefield and therefore had its conditions for any peace agreement.

“As a result, it’s unlikely the Kremlin would have particular concerns about Trump giving up on diplomacy,” Axios wrote.

At the same time, the publication notes, “The US isn’t out of the game yet,” adding that Rubio and Witkoff presented a framework for a potential peace agreement to end the war during meetings in Paris on Thursday, according to the State Department.

Rubio said he is now waiting for responses from both Kyiv and Moscow.