President Trump is set to convene a meeting on Monday afternoon to discuss the next steps concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, including the possibility of halting U.S. military aid, according to a U.S. official and a source familiar with the meeting who spoke to Axios.
Why it matters:
Trump and his allies have increased pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following their contentious Oval Office meeting last week. A suspension of military aid could significantly hinder Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself against Russia’s invasion and could also weaken its bargaining power as Trump advocates for peace talks.
The latest:
In response to an Associated Press report where Zelensky expressed that the end of the war remained “still very, very far away,” Trump reacted on Truth Social, stating: “This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!”
Trump further wrote: “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 U.S.”
“Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?”
The other side:
In a post on X, Zelensky emphasized the importance of diplomacy to achieve peace as soon as possible, writing: “It is very important that we try to make our diplomacy really substantive to end this war the soonest possible.”
He continued: “We need real peace and Ukrainians want it most because the war ruins our cities and towns. We lose our people. We need to stop the war and to guarantee security.
“We are working together with America and our European partners and very much hope on US support on the path to peace. Peace is needed as soon as possible.”
Driving the news:
This exchange appears to set the stage for Monday’s meeting, where Trump will deliberate with key officials on the future course of action.
Among those expected to attend are Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and other senior administration officials, according to sources. The White House has not yet provided an official response regarding the meeting. The New York Times was the first to report on the meeting.
What they are saying:
Speaking to Fox News on Monday, Waltz noted that time was not in Zelensky’s favor, stating: “The American people’s patience is not unlimited, their wallets are not unlimited, and our stockpiles and munitions are not unlimited,” adding that “the time to talk is now.”
Waltz also suggested that resolving the conflict would require Zelensky to mend relations with Trump after their recent public clash, accept the mineral agreement, and commit to peace negotiations with Russia.
Friction point:
Trump has been advocating for a ceasefire in Ukraine, followed by peace negotiations. However, Zelensky has been hesitant about agreeing to an unconditional ceasefire, citing distrust toward Russian President Vladimir Putin due to previously broken agreements.
The situation escalated after Zelensky publicly stated that Putin could not be trusted, further straining relations. While Russia has not formally called for a ceasefire, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned on Sunday that Trump’s “rapidly changing” foreign policy “largely coincides with our vision.”
When questioned by reporters on Monday, Trump clarified that he had “hasn’t even talked” about suspending military aid to Ukraine until now. However, he remarked that Zelensky “needs to be more appreciative” toward the U.S. to help resolve the current conflict.
