Ukraine is set to hold urgent talks with the United States after Washington suspended intelligence sharing, a move seen as a major blow to Kyiv’s efforts to resist Russia’s ongoing invasion.
The diplomatic crisis follows a tense meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump, where the latter publicly berated Zelenskyy and expelled him from the White House in front of global media.
Zelenskyy Seeks to Repair US Ties
In a late-Wednesday address, Zelenskyy confirmed that both Ukrainian and US teams were working on a new high-level meeting, though he did not specify the date or location.
“We all want a safe future for our people—not just a temporary ceasefire, but an end to the war once and for all,” he stated after a call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Trump has made ending the Ukraine war a key foreign policy goal but has not yet outlined a concrete peace plan. However, he read aloud a letter from Zelenskyy to US Congress on Tuesday, where the Ukrainian leader expressed willingness to negotiate.
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Following the intelligence-sharing suspension, Trump criticized Zelenskyy, suggesting he was unpopular in Ukraine and calling for elections, despite martial law barring votes during wartime.
US Suspension of Military Aid and Intelligence Sharing
This latest crisis comes after the US suspended military aid to Ukraine earlier in the week. The decision has heightened fears in Kyiv and across Europe that Ukraine could be forced into a peace settlement on Moscow’s terms.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed the pause in intelligence sharing, deepening concerns over Ukraine’s battlefield readiness.
French President Emmanuel Macron has floated the idea of sending European troops to Ukraine after a peace deal is signed, ensuring Russia does not launch another invasion.
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“They won’t go to fight today or on the front lines, but they would be there to guarantee the agreement is respected,” Macron said in a televised speech.
As Ukraine grapples with the fallout from its dispute with Washington, Russian forces continue to make advances. Moscow confirmed the capture of another village in eastern Donetsk, though analysis from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggests that Russia’s momentum has slowed after a period of rapid territorial gains in winter.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin cautiously welcomed Zelenskyy’s expressed willingness to negotiate, but doubted his legitimacy as Ukrainian elections have been suspended due to martial law.
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With tensions at an all-time high, a Macron-led delegation—including Zelenskyy and British PM Keir Starmer—may visit Washington to present a united European front to Trump.
As Ukraine braces for a crucial moment in its war effort, the fate of its US-backed resistance hinges on whether Zelenskyy can mend ties with Washington and secure renewed support.
