94Ha Viewpoint
A senior U.S. defense official revealed that U.S. President Trump ordered a suspension of all military aid to Ukraine until Trump determines that Ukrainian leaders have demonstrated a sincere commitment to peace.
Bloomberg reported that the unnamed senior official said that Trump had instructed Defense Secretary Hegseth to implement the order. The suspension measures include all military equipment that has not yet been delivered to Ukraine, including weapons being transported by aircraft or ships, and materials stored in transit areas in Poland.
It is unclear how much impact Trump’s suspension order will have on the scale of aid. It is understood that the Biden administration left about US$3.85 billion (about S$5.2 billion) in presidential appropriation authorization funds (that is, resources drawn from the U.S. inventory) when it was in office. But since Trump took office, it has been unclear whether this money will be used to support Ukraine, especially considering that the U.S. weapons inventory is already in a state of emergency and urgently needs to be replenished.
In addition, Trump’s suspension of military aid orders not only terminates the use of these funds, but also poses a threat to aid projects that are being delivered or implemented, including key ammunition, hundreds of multiple rocket launch systems, anti-tank weapons and other military equipment. However, terminating existing contracts with military-industrial enterprises could result in the United States paying liquidated damages to cover the costs that the companies have already invested in fulfilling the orders.
Trump hopes to reach a quick agreement to end the conflict sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago. But during last week’s U.S.-Ukraine summit, the two sides broke out in public in front of the media. When Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed his hope for security guarantees to prevent Russia from undermining future agreements, Trump angrily said that he would come back to negotiate when he was really ready to make peace, and the two sides parted ways unhappily.
This situation has triggered an emergency response from European allies, trying to fill the gap left by the interruption of U.S. aid by providing weapons and peacekeeping forces. However, Europe’s military capabilities are far inferior to those of the United States, and EU officials are concerned that the existing weapons supply may only last until this summer.
