(Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump has paused military aid to Ukraine following his clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week, a White House official said, deepening the fissure that has opened between the one-time allies.
Here are reactions to the move.
U.S. SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN, THE TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE:
“By freezing military aid to Ukraine, President Trump has kicked the door wide open for Putin to escalate his violent aggression against innocent Ukrainians. The repercussions will undoubtedly be devastating.”
FRENCH JUNIOR MINISTER FOR EUROPE, BENJAMIN HADDAD:
“Fundamentally, if you want peace, does a decision to suspend arms to Ukraine reinforce peace or does it make it more distant? It makes it more distant, because it only strengthens the hand of the aggressor on the ground, which is Russia,” Haddad told France 2.
HEAD OF THE UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT’S FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, OLEKSANDR MEREZHKO:
“On the surface, this looks really bad. It looks like he is pushing us towards capitulation, meaning (accepting) Russia’s demands. To stop aid now means to help Putin.”
POLISH DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER CEZARY TOMCZYK:
Pausing U.S. military aid for Ukraine is “bad news”, Tomczyk told private radio Zet.
THE HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT:
“The U.S. President and the Hungarian government share the same stance: instead of continuing weapons shipments and the war, a ceasefire and peace talks are needed as soon as possible,” said a government spokesman.
(Editing by Michael Perry and Kim Coghill)
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