**US Freezes Military Aid to Ukraine**
The US has stopped sending military aid to Ukraine. This decision was made by President Donald Trump, who wants Ukrainian leaders to make a genuine effort towards peace.
Ukrainian officials are shocked and upset by this move. Volodymyr Dubovyk, the head of Odesa National University’s Center for International Studies, said: “We can scrap everything that we previously knew about U.S. foreign policy.”
The freeze on military aid is worth over $1 billion. It affects not only future aid but also weapons already in transit.
**Why is this happening?**
The US is putting pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The White House wants him to make concessions towards peace with Russia, which has invaded Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials believe that the Trump administration is more aligned with Russia’s interests than Ukraine’s. Oleksandr Merezhko, a lawmaker, said: “It looks as if Trump is trying to cut a deal with Russia at the cost of the weaker party, which is Ukraine.”
**Reactions from Ukraine**
Ukrainian soldiers are confident in their ability to fight back against Russia’s invasion. They believe that Europe will help them with supplies.
However, some Ukrainian officials are concerned about the impact on air defense systems, which depend on US support. Lieutenant Colonel Bohdan Krotevych said: “We must urgently find an alternative because civilians will die if we run out of missiles.”
**Europe steps in**
The European Commission has announced a plan to strengthen EU countries’ defense capabilities. This could help fill the gap left by the US withdrawal.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “Europe is ready to assume its responsibilities.” Whether or not Europe can step up in time remains to be seen.
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