Why Is Trump Pausing Aid to Ukraine? What to Know.

The Trump administration’s decision to temporarily suspend the delivery of all military assistance to Ukraine sent shock waves through Europe on Tuesday, even as details about the move remained scant.The decision — which affects more than $1 billion in arms and ammunition in the pipeline and on order — made real a fear that has racked Ukraine since Mr.Trump’s re-election.Here’s what to know.Why is the U.S.

suspending aid?In the run-up to Mr.Trump’s inauguration, the Biden administration rushed to deliver as much support to Ukraine as it could out of concern that Mr.

Trump would cut military assistance.And President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has been working furiously to shore up European support.Mr.

Trump’s overtures toward Russia since he took office aggravated those fears — culminating with an explosive confrontation in the Oval Office on Friday between the U.S.leader and Mr.

Zelensky.Mr.

Trump castigated the Ukrainian president for not being grateful enough for U.S.support in the war with Russia.The decision to suspend aid came out of meetings at the White House on Monday between Mr.

Trump and his senior national security aides, according to senior administration and military officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.It appears aimed at forcing Mr.

Zelensky to agree to a cease-fire on terms Mr.Trump dictates, or condemns the country to larger battlefield losses.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

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