The US has cut intelligence sharing with Ukraine, severely impacting the flow of vital information that Kyiv uses to defend itself from Russian attacks.
The latest blow comes after Donald Trump suspended military aid to Kyiv and despite the US leader boasting during an address to Congress on Tuesday about receiving a letter from the Ukrainian president expressing willingness to come to the negotiating table to end the three-year war.
“We have taken a step back and are pausing and reviewing all aspects of this relationship,” Mr Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz said.
On Thursday, European leaders will hold crisis talks in Brussels in support for Ukraine.
French president Emmanuel Macron said he would open talks with European allies over extending his country’s nuclear deterrent to protect the continent. Europe is in a “new era”, he said in a televised statement.
The US has provided critical intelligence to Ukraine for its fight against Moscow’s forces, including information that helped thwart Vladimir Putin’s drive to seize Kyiv at the start of his full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Volodymyr Zelensky had on Tuesday night bowed to the intense pressure from Mr Trump, calling the White House spat “regrettable” in a statement while pledging to enter peace talks.
“There’s been positive movement. We are expecting first results next week,” Mr Zelensky said in his Wednesday evening video address posted on social media.
Sources have told The Independent that should supplies of US Patriot missiles to Ukraine stop, it would be unable to defend itself in a matter of days.
CIA director John Ratcliffe called the intelligence suspension a “pause” and said it came after the disastrous meeting in the Oval Office on Friday. Mr Ratcliffe said Mr Trump wanted to know that Mr Zelensky was serious about peace.
“On the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen will go away, and I think we’ll work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine as we have,” Mr Ratcliffe said.
Ukraine could soon be receiving intelligence – and military support – from the US once Mr Zelensky shows to Mr Trump he is serious about participating in talks on Mr Trump’s terms, Mr Waltz said on Fox News.
“I think if we can nail down these negotiations and move towards these negotiations and, in fact, put some confidence building measures on the table, then the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause,” he said. “We have to know that both sides are sincerely negotiating towards a partial, then permanent peace.”
Andriy Yermak, the head of Mr Zelensky’s office, said he had spoken to Mr Waltz on the phone on Wednesday to “discuss the next steps towards a just and lasting peace”.
