President Trump pauses aid to Ukraine

The White House announced it is "pausing" aid to Ukraine

President Trump has ordered a pause on all United States aid to Ukraine.

The news comes after last week's angry talks between the US President and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington.

The meeting was about Ukraine's war with Russia and a deal put forward by the United States (US) to try and achieve peace.

In a statement on Tuesday, the White House announced they are "pausing and reviewing" their aid "to ensure that it is contributing to a solution."

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told reporters in a press conference that Kyiv "will continue to work with the US through all available channels in a calm manner."

What has the White House announced?

The news follows a meeting between the two Presidents last week in Washington

The war in Ukraine started on February 24 2022, when Russia invaded the country.

When the war began, many countries around the world including the UK and United States - whose president was Joe Biden at the time - gave aid to Ukraine.

This included both money and weapons to help Ukraine fight Russia.

In November 2024, Donald Trump won the US election and took over the job as US President from Mr Biden earlier this year.

Mr Trump has very different views on the Ukraine-Russia war compared to Mr Biden.

He wants to make a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine quickly, and he also thinks that America has given too much help to Ukraine.

Mr Trump has accused Ukraine's leader, President Zelensky, of not doing enough to make a peace deal happen.

What else does Mr Trump want to see happen?

Mr Trump also wants the European Union to spend more money on their own defence systems so they are less reliant on any US help in the future - and also for them to do more to help Ukraine.

Europe, including the UK, currently funds more than half (60%) of Ukraine's aid.

Up until this announcement, the US was the biggest single donor country to Ukraine.

But Jonathan Beale, the BBC's defence correspondent, says "US military support is still vital to Ukraine".

President Trump told Mr Zelensky at his meeting in the White House last week that he should "be more grateful" for all the support the US has given to Ukraine.

Mr Trump also said Mr Zelensky needs to show a commitment to negotiating with Russia, saying "You're either going to make a deal or we're out."

What has the reaction been?

"If the US stops, or pauses these supplies, this will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace," a spokesperson for Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, told the BBC.

US Vice-President JD Vance has said that the door is open for Ukraine to return to negotiations if Mr Zelensky "is willing to seriously talk peace".

But Ukraine's prime minister has said his country is "firmly determined to continue co-operating with the United States."

Speaking at a news conference, Denys Shmyhal says Ukraine will work with the US to "make sure that Ukraine and the United States continue fighting for lasting peace".

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the UK "must work to keep America in, and Russia out."

In the UK, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said that Prime Minister Keir Starmer remains focused on securing a lasting peace deal for Ukraine and that he "won't choose between US and Europe."