General
Thursday Briefing
What President Trump’s moves could mean for Ukraine.
Ukrainian soldiers in the Dnipro region last month. The U.S. supplies just 20 percent of Ukraine’s military hardware, but experts say it’s essential.Credit…Tyler Hicks/The New York Times
How Trump’s suspensions could affect Ukraine
The U.S. has stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, U.S. officials said yesterday, days after President Trump suspended military aid. Officials said the pauses were meant to pressure Ukraine to cooperate with Trump’s plan to end the war with Russia.
Some U.S. officials suggested the suspensions could be fairly short-lived if Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, bent to the demands of the White House. After some prodding and counseling from European leaders, Zelensky is working to get in Trump’s good graces.
European leaders are set to meet in Brussels today to discuss how to support Ukraine and strengthen their own military capabilities. But Trump’s decision to withhold U.S. support could reorder the battlefield.
Without U.S.-made weapons, Ukraine’s forces could start to buckle in as little as four months, analysts said. About 20 percent of Ukraine’s military hardware comes from the U.S. But that 20 percent “is the most lethal and important,” one expert said.
Analysis: “If Russia sees potential for quick military gains from a weakened Ukraine, the incentive for talks will diminish for Moscow,” said Andrew Kramer, our Kyiv bureau chief. By halting U.S. assistance, Andrew added, Trump “is essentially asking Ukraine to agree to terms in advance, without knowing what they are.”
Related: In a televised address, President Emmanuel Macron said France would be willing to discuss extending the protection afforded by its nuclear arsenal to European allies.
