Zelenskyy Expresses Willingness to Sign Peace Deal Amid US Aid Suspension
Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed regret over recent developments during his Oval Office meeting in Washington, signalling his readiness to sign any agreement with the United States to restore peace. Observers interpret this announcement as a sign of capitulation by Zelenskyy. French President Emmanuel Macron praised Zelenskyy’s willingness to engage in renewed talks with former US President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, Trump has suspended military aid to Ukraine, with the freeze expected to remain in place until Ukraine demonstrates readiness for peace negotiations with Russia. Russia welcomed the decision, viewing it as a positive step towards normalising relations between Moscow and Washington.
Zelenskyy has directed defence and intelligence officials to contact US authorities for further information on the aid freeze. The European Union, which was excluded from the US-Russian talks along with Ukraine, is convening an emergency summit on Thursday to strengthen its support for Kyiv.
In a social media post, Zelenskyy emphasised his desire to resolve tensions with Trump, acknowledging that the White House meeting did not proceed as anticipated. He reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to peace and expressed gratitude for US assistance in preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Disputed US Aid Figures Spark Controversy
Washington: Trump’s claim that the United States has provided $350 billion in aid to Ukraine since the war began has sparked controversy, as the figure contradicts estimates from Ukrainian officials, US government agencies, and independent experts.
According to the US Department of Defence, Congress has allocated approximately $182.75 billion for Ukraine, including military training and operations in Europe. The Kiel Institute, a German think tank, estimates the actual amount at around $120 billion.
The US State Department reports that $65.9 billion in military aid has been delivered, with $27.7 billion authorised through emergency presidential drawdown authority. This mechanism allows the US president to rapidly deploy military equipment during crises.
Military Aid Breakdown
The US has supplied Ukraine with three Patriot surface-to-air missile batteries, 12 NASAMS/HAWK systems, over 3,000 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and 21 air surveillance radars. Additionally, 200 155mm howitzers, three million artillery rounds, and more than 700,000 mortars have been delivered.
More than 10,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles and 120,000 other anti-vehicle weapons were provided, alongside 500 million rounds of small arms ammunition. Washington has also delivered 31 Abrams tanks, 45 Soviet-designed T-72B tanks, and over 5,000 Humvee military vehicles.
Despite the extensive military aid, the US remains critical of prolonging the conflict, while the European Union is actively seeking to bolster Kyiv’s defence efforts.
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