Let's force you to make a deal

[planosteve]

President Donald Trump has paused all U.S. military aid to Ukraine following last week’s tense Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Military aid, including weapons in transit and in Poland, will be cut off until Trump believes that Zelensky is willing to negotiate peace with Russia, a Department of Defense official told Bloomberg. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will execute Trump’s latest decision.

A senior Trump official told Fox News that “this is not permanent termination of aid, it’s a pause,” and added that “the orders are going out right now.”

The pause follows a contentious White House shouting match between Trump, Zelensky, and Vice President JD Vance, in which U.S. officials repeatedly stressed that Zelensky did not appear grateful enough for America’s continued support for Ukraine. Trump urged Zelensky to be “more appreciative” and on Monday threatened that Zelensky “won’t be around very long” if he doesn’t commit to good-faith peace negotiations.

“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,” Trump said. “That person will not be listened to very long. Because I believe that Russia wants to make a deal. I believe, certainly the people of Ukraine want to make a deal.”

Last week, Zelensky visited the White House to negotiate a rare minerals deal that would allow the U.S. access to rare earth resources in Ukraine in return for guaranteed security measures. However, Zelensky left earlier than expected, and without signing a deal, after Trump accused him of being disrespectful toward America’s military aid and efforts to stabilize the region. Trump took away from the meeting that Zelensky wanted to “fight, fight, fight,” not establish peace.

“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War III!” Trump told Zelensky.