Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the White House, Washington D.C., March 3, 2025

EA on International Outlets: Can Europe Protect Ukraine from Russia?

EA on Al Jazeera’s Inside Story: Trump-Vance-Russia Assault on Zelensky and Ukraine

Sunday’s Coverage: Europe Tries To Take The Initiative

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1704 GMT:

“A source familiar with the matter” says the US continues to share intelligence with Ukraine despite Donald Trump’s suspension of military aid.

UPDATE 1653 GMT:

In a lengthy statement posted on social media, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has catered to Donald Trump’s ego: “My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”

Zelensky said he wanted “to work with the US for a strong final deal”. He expressed gratitude for “how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence”, rewriting history to emphasize “the moment when things changed when President Trump” rather than the US Congress “provided Ukraine with Javelins [anti-tank missiles]”.

Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.

Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it in any time and in any convenient format. We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively.

UPDATE 1427 GMT:

Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has assured that, despite Donald Trump’s cutoff of military aid, “Our military and the government have the capabilities, the tools to maintain the situation on the frontline. They are obviously not subject to disclosure. We will continue to work with the US through all available channels in a calm manner.”

But Shmyhal warned of consequences for air defenses with the maintenance of US-supplied Patriot systems put at risk.

UPDATE 1422 GMT:

Opening a Cabinet meeting, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said, “Please fasten your seatbelts, we’re entering a turbulence zone.”

Tusk warned of “unprecedented” risks facing Europe, “the biggest in the last few decades when it comes to security”, and expected the need to make “extraordinary” decisions.

“As you know, a decision was announced to suspend the US aid for Ukraine, and perhaps start lifting sanctions on Russia. We don’t have any reason to think these are just words,” he explained.

UPDATE 1124 GMT:

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has proposed a “de facto NATO membership” for Ukraine: a commitment that if Russia ever attacks again, Kyiv would automatically be admitted into the 32-nation bloc.

UPDATE 1058 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s message in his nightly address to the nation:

UPDATE 1020 GMT:

The Pentagon has denied that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a halt to measures against Russia’s cyber-operations.

Hegseth reportedly orders US Cyber Command to offensive cyber and information operations.

A “senior defense official” maintained that Hegseth had not cancelled or suspend any cyber operations.

UPDATE 1008 GMT:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has presented a 5-point plan, requiring €800 billion in investment, to strengthen defense capabilities.

“The real question in front of us is whether Europe is prepared to act as decisively as the situation dictates, and whether Europe is ready and able to act with speed and with the ambition that is needed,” she said.

The plan includes the use of public funding for defense at the national level; €150 billion ($158 billion) in loans to member states for defense investments; incentives to use cohesion policy programs for investment in the defense sector; and mobilizing private capital through the Savings and Investment Union and the European Investment Bank.

UPDATE 1004 GMT:

Poland’s Donald Tusk has tweeted a response to Donald Trump, albeit in Polish:

A sovereign Ukraine, pro-western, and able to defend itself against Russian aggression means a stronger and safer Poland. In the political turmoil and growing chaos, this is what counts most. Whoever questions this obvious truth contributes to Putin’s triumph. Understand?

UPDATE 0958 GMT:

The Kremlin has welcomed Donald Trump’s cut-off of military aid to Ukraine, saying it could force Kyiv into negotiations to accept Russia’s demands.

“If this is true, then it is a decision that could genuinely push the Kyiv regime towards a peace process,” said spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

He also welcomed reports that the Trump Administration has asked agencies to plan for the easing of sanctions on Russia: “If we’re talking about normalizing bilateral relations, they need to be freed from this negative burden of so-called sanctions.”

UPDATE 0950 GMT:

Poland’s Foreign Minister has remarked about the Trump Administration’s cut-off of military aid to Ukraine:

This is a very important decision, and the situation is very serious. This sentence may sound banal, but it has great political significance – it was made without any information, or consultation, neither with NATO allies, nor with the Ramstein group, which is involved in supporting Ukraine in its fight.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has posted:

UPDATE 0938 GMT:

Oleksandr Merezhko, the chair of Ukraine’s Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, has equated Donald Trump’s cutoff of military aid to the appeasement of Adolf Hitler with the 1938 Munich Agreement handing part of Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany.

To stop aid now means to help Putin. On the surface, this looks really bad. It looks like [ Trump] is pushing us towards capitulation, [accepting[ Russia’s demands….

This is worse than Munich, because at least there they didn’t try to paint Czechoslovakia as the aggressor, but here they try to accuse the victim of aggression – it is extremely dangerous.

Hungary, led by Vladimir Putin’s ally Viktor Orbán, has supported Trump’s appeasement: ““The US President and the Hungarian government share the same stance: instead of continuing weapons shipments and the war, a ceasefire and peace talks are needed as soon as possible.”

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Tuesday.

Last week Rubio cancelled a meeting with European Union foreign policy head Kaja Kallas.

UPDATE 0929 GMT:

France’s junior minister for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, has responded to the Trump suspension of military aid for Ukraine:

Fundamentally, if you want peace, does a decision to suspend arms to Ukraine reinforce peace or does it make it more distant? It makes it more distant, because it only strengthens the hand of the aggressor on the ground, which is Russia.

In contrast, UK Housing Minister Alex Norris has avoided any criticism of Trump:

US military spending is a decision for the United States. All of us, I think, are committed to securing that lasting peace.

We’re honest brokers in this process, we’re bringing together partners to get what we think is the goal that certainly we want as the UK, but I think we want globally as well. I don’t think we can be that honest broker if we provide a running commentary on every twist and turn. You know, I don’t think diplomacy can be done over the airwaves, so I’ve no intention of doing that.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Still ranting at Volodymyr Zelensky and Europe, Donald Trump has suspended authorized US aid for Ukraine’s resistance of Russia’s three-year invasion.

A “senior Administration official” had tipped off media early Monday that the decision would be taken by Trump in a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The final shipments of ammunition, vehicles, and equipment authorized during the Biden Administration would be held up.

The gathering last night also included J.D. Vance; Hegseth; Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard; and Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Bloomberg confirmed that all US military equipment not in Ukraine will be held back, including weapons in transit on aircraft and ships or waiting in transit areas in Poland.

In December, President Joe Biden announced an additional $5.9bn in security and budget assistance.

A “senior administration official” said that “this is not permanent termination of aid, it’s a pause”.

The Administration had already choked off non-military aid delivered through the US Agency for International Development, which Trump and unelected co-President Elon Musk have effectively dismantled.

US funds had helped Ukraine keep Government and public services running, and had assisted in the payment of salaries to teachers and doctors.

Trump’s Tirade

Before the meeting, Trump had followed up last Friday’s attempt to humiliate Zelensky with another tirade against the President, Ukraine, and Europe.

Triggered by Zelensky’s recognition that an end to the Russian invasion “is still very, very far away”, Trump railed:

This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelensky, and America will not put up with it for much longer! It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the US – Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?

Zelensky implicitly responded:

But Trump doubled down in a press conference, insisting that Zelensky capitulate to his demands:

It should not be that hard a deal to make. It could be made very fast. Now, maybe somebody doesn’t want to make a deal, and if somebody doesn’t want to make a deal, I think that person won’t be around very long.

J.D. Vance insisted that Ukraine’s agreement to hand over raw minerals to the US would suffice as a “security guarantee”, without explaining how.

If you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine.

He added his own slap of former European allies, “That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.”

Trump Moves Towards Easing Sanctions on Russia

Following up its declaration of “economic opportunities” after direct talks with Russia, the White House has asked the State Department and Treasury to draft a list of sanctions for US officials to discuss with Moscow’s representatives in the coming days. Officials are drawing up a proposal for lifting sanctions on select entities and individuals, including some Russian oligarchs.

It is unclear what Trump and his inner circle are seeking in return.

In an apparent offering to Vladimir Putin, the Administration has suspended all measures against Russian cyber-operations.

The order, issued about a week ago, may also include operations assisting Ukraine. Cyber ​​Command has sent specialists to Kyiv to strengthen Ukraine’s digital defense and to study Moscow’s capabilities.