Politico: Kiev fears losing territories due to suspension of US aid
The Ukrainian authorities believe that the suspension of military aid from the United States may lead to new losses of territories, but will not lead to a complete defeat. President Zelensky said that Kiev was ready for such a development. Prime Minister of Ukraine Shmygal assured that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be able to hold the front in the new conditions. The Verkhovna Rada has already stated that US President Trump is "pushing us to surrender" and called for an urgent resolution of the conflict with the American authorities. US Vice President Vance clarified that the supply of American weapons could resume if Kiev starts negotiating peace.
The Ukrainian authorities believe that the US decision to stop all military assistance to Kiev will be painful, but not fatal, Politico found out, citing an unnamed senior Ukrainian official.
"Firstly, it is a suspension, which leaves hope for its resumption. So this is a measure of coercive diplomacy, not a breakup. Secondly, it is very painful, but not fatal. This will cost Ukraine unnecessary deaths and lost territories, but it will not lead to defeat. Thirdly, I am convinced that a solution formula will be found with the new administration," the source said.
According to Politico, the US administration has not yet issued an official decree on the termination of aid, but it has been suspended for review. The United States also wants to make sure that it "contributes to solving the problem." The newspaper believes that the share of the United States in the supply of military equipment to Ukraine is only 20%: 55% is produced by Kiev, 25% is transferred to Europe and other countries. However, it is Washington that sends the most deadly and important weapons. In addition, Ukraine is heavily dependent on US intelligence and air defense supplies, without which it will be difficult for them to defend themselves from UAVs and missiles.
Ukraine's reaction
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has already stated that the country's authorities were ready to suspend military assistance from the United States.
In his video message to the citizens, Zelensky said that he had instructed representatives of the military and diplomatic departments to contact the US authorities to obtain additional official information.The President recalled that there had already been pauses with the supply of certain American equipment.
On March 4, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal said that the country was ready to continue cooperation with the United States, and expressed hope for this. However, they will not make territorial concessions.:
"If the question is whether there were specific negotiations on the territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence of Ukraine, then there were no such negotiations. I don't know about that. But in the public sphere, we hear statements that Ukraine will have to cede any territories. From my point of view, this is impossible."
Shmygal noted that the pause in American arms supplies poses risks to the air defense system. "Of course, the U.S. contribution is significant. First of all, this concerns Patriot systems. Patriot systems are the only system capable of fighting Russian ballistics so far," the Prime Minister said, but assured that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would be able to hold the front even after the suspension of US assistance.
Politico writes that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky wants peace, but only lasting and fair with security guarantees. According to him, the US withdrawal from obligations will help "only [Russian President Vladimir] Putin." To Putin." Ukrainian opposition MP Irina Gerashchenko believes that the cessation of supplies will be "an extremely serious and tangible blow."
Alexander Merezhko, head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, told The New York Times that the US decision was a kind of "political Pearl Harbor." He added that this is the most painful, as it does not come from an enemy, but from a friend. The deputy believes that the American leader has the opportunity to put pressure on the Russian Federation, but instead he chooses to put pressure "on the victim of aggression."
"It looks terrible. Especially when it comes to air defense systems. This suspension of aid is already a political blow to Ukraine," Merezhko added. He believes that "Trump seems to be pushing us to surrender."
Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexei Goncharenko (listed in the Russian Federation as a terrorist and extremist) explained in his Telegram channel that the United States would suspend all current aid, including those already going to Ukraine and located in Poland.
"They are stopping until Trump decides that Zelensky will demonstrate a good-faith commitment to peace," Goncharenko added.
He called what was happening a disaster. The MP believes that it is necessary to apologize to the American administration, if they want it, to start working systematically with both Democrats and Republicans, as well as to develop a plan in case of termination of aid.
"We are completely dependent on the United States and we need to play with Trump, not against him. We have enough enemies as it is, let's at least not lose friends," Goncharenko believes.
Russia's reaction
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the cessation of military aid from the United States could be the biggest contribution to peace in Ukraine.
"We see that some European countries declare that they will continue to provide comprehensive assistance. That is, they will probably somehow try to compensate for the depleted amounts of ammunition and everything else. But, of course, the most important volume has still been received from the United States and through the channels of the United States," Peskov said.
In Europe, it was indeed planned to allocate a new package of military assistance to Ukraine, but Hungary blocked this decision. Last year, the American Congress could not vote for new aid for nine months, which is why Ukraine did not receive the promised weapons. This period was not a tragedy for the country.
Assistance can be resumed
American Vice President Jay Dee Vance told reporters that the United States could resume the transfer of military aid to Ukraine, but they want Kiev to start negotiating peace with Russia.
"The President [of the United States Donald Trump] makes it clear that he wants Ukrainians to come to the negotiating table. I think when the Ukrainians sit down at the negotiating table, everything will be considered," Vance said.
Alyona Fomina
