How Big Did Zelenskyy Mess Up Meeting with Trump? Just Look at What US Warplanes Did After Oval Office Disaster
Military assistance from the United States to Ukraine was halted so suddenly that aircraft already transporting weapons were instructed to "turn around in the sky."
During an Oval Office meeting last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sparked a heated exchange with President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance — a confrontation that may have severe repercussions for Ukraine’s ongoing battle with Russia.
The Pentagon verified on Tuesday that Trump had ordered an immediate suspension of all aid to Ukraine. According to USA Today, all support officially ended as of Monday night.
An official source reportedly disclosed that some of the planes already in flight, carrying critical supplies, were forced to reverse course.
If the freeze on assistance is extended, it will severely weaken Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself against Russia in a war that has now dragged on for more than three years.
The United States has, by far, been the largest single contributor to Ukraine’s war effort.
A federal interagency panel calculated that, as of December 31, the total U.S. aid to Ukraine amounted to $183 billion. In comparison, European Union institutions provided $52.1 billion, while individual European nations collectively added $60.4 billion.
Based on data from Reuters, the U.S. specifically allocated $65 billion for military assistance, largely using two key programs: the Presidential Drawdown Authority and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
The Presidential Drawdown Authority — which previously allowed former President Joe Biden, and now allows Trump, to authorize the transfer of military equipment directly from U.S. stockpiles to foreign allies without waiting for congressional approval — played a major role in delivering aid.
The Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, on the other hand, focuses on long-term production contracts with defense contractors to keep Ukraine supplied with weapons and equipment over time.
Through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, Ukraine had been expecting a batch of refurbished armored vehicles, scheduled to arrive sometime mid-year after undergoing upgrades in Europe.
However, the Trump administration appears unlikely to cancel the contracts made under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, but may instead decide to keep the equipment for the U.S. military, especially given how much American stockpiles have been depleted in recent years.
The heart of Trump and Vance’s criticism toward Zelenskyy centered around what they see as his unrealistic view of Ukraine’s current position in the war — insisting on continuing to fight rather than seriously pursuing a peace deal.
This sudden pause in aid essentially "calls his bluff."
If Zelenskyy truly believes Ukraine can sustain this war indefinitely, Trump’s message is clear: he will have to do so without relying on American money or American weapons — at least for the duration of this pause.
Trump’s primary goal is ensuring "the American taxpayers are not treated as an infinite supply of cash" for Zelenskyy in a conflict Trump — and a growing number of others — believes should be settled, not prolonged.
In short, Zelenskyy is quickly discovering that Trump’s team is fully committed to avoiding "forever wars" and wants this conflict to end.
If Zelenskyy hopes to preserve what remains of his country in the months and years ahead, he will need to confront reality and "seriously try to forge a lasting peace."