UNITED STATES HALTS INTELLIGENCE SHARING AND FUELS RUSSIAN STRIKES ON UKRAINE
The United States has paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine, intelligence that was crucial in targeting Russian invaders. This order comes directly after the Trump administration announced a freeze on weapons being sent to Ukraine. A Ukrainian intelligence officer went on record to report that Ukraine would run out of its last American military supplies in “two or three months.”
The Trump administration is taking these steps to ensure President Zelenskyy is “ready for peace.” Still, just one day after the announcement of the United States pausing intelligence sharing, Russia relentlessly bombed Ukraine. One location of interest was a hotel in President Zelenskyy’s hometown. “Just before the attack, volunteers from a humanitarian organization, citizens of Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom, had checked into the hotel,” President Zelenskyy said. “They survived because they managed to get down from their rooms in time.” Four people were killed in the Russian attack, The New York Times reported.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia had launched two ballistic missiles and 112 drones. United States weaponry allowed the Ukrainian military to intercept Russia’s more sophisticated missiles. Still, the halt on arms support will make it more difficult for Ukraine to defend against the shelling that is occurring daily.
European strategic efforts have been ongoing as EU politicians remark on the immediate withdrawal of American military resources. François Bayrou, the French Prime Minister, said the freeze on aid was akin to abandoning Ukraine in favor of a Russian victory. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer advocates securing U.S. Patriot interceptors, which allow Ukraine to combat intelligent Russian missiles, as part of a ‘U.S. air-cover package for any UK-led European peacekeeping force.’ The EU is also considering implementing Sky Shield, a European-led Ukraine air protection consisting of 120 fighter jets, to secure Ukraine's airspace against Russian air attacks.
Since the disastrous meeting with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, The Kremlin has shown optimism about the United States’ alignment with Russian policy. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a reporter from Russian state television:
The new administration is rapidly changing all foreign policy configurations. This largely aligns with our vision. There is a long way to go because a lot of damage has been done to the whole complex of bilateral relations. But if the political will of the two leaders, President Putin and President Trump, is maintained, this path can be quite quick and successful.
Donald Trump plans to meet with Putin at some point in the near future to discuss a resolution in the Ukraine war.
