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Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
'Dangerous' US Halt to Ukraine Aid Could See Russian Battlefield Gains
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Ukrainian aid group told Newsweek the White House's recent move to pause weapons deliveries to Kyiv was "dangerous and irresponsible." On Tuesday, the U.S. confirmed it had paused the delivery of some of Ukraine's most in-demand equipment and supplies. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the decision was made "to put America's interests first" following a review of U.S. military support to other countries. But it has prompted bipartisan criticism in the U.S. and Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and founder of Hope for Ukraine, predicted it would mean an increase in Ukrainian civilian casualties. The D.C.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War said the U.S. halt of weaponry on air defense interceptors, artillery shells, missiles and rockets would lead to Russian gains as previous American aid suspensions have in the past. Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment. This image from March 6, 2025 shows a Patriot air defense system installed at the military hub for Ukraine at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in Jasionka, southeast Poland. This image from March 6, 2025 shows a Patriot air defense system installed at the military hub for Ukraine at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in Jasionka, southeast It Matters The U.S. has provided about $67 billion in military aid to Ukraine over the full-scale invasion. Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, there have been concerns from Kyiv and its allies about the U.S.'s continuing commitment to this aid. Critics of the U.S. aid suspension say the move is likely to help Russia's military operations against Ukraine only weeks after Moscow launched a summer offensive across multiple parts of the front line. The U.S. move is feared to degrade Ukraine's ability to defend against long-range missile and drone strike capabilities that kill civilians. What To Know Politico first reported that a review of U.S. munitions stockpiles had raised concerns over a dip in the Department of Defense's stockpiles, and that an initial decision to hold back some military aid pledged during the previous administration was made almost a month ago. Aid halted had come through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and donations pulled from U.S. military stocks, which have dwindled due to heavy involvement in the Middle East. The ISW, citing Western media reports, said the U.S. pause on weapons will affect PAC-3 interceptors for Patriot air defense systems, Stinger man-portable air defense systems, 155mm high explosive howitzer munitions and Hellfire air-to-ground missiles. Also impacted will be the supply of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets, grenade launchers and AIM air-to-air missiles. Like previous U.S. aid suspensions to Kyiv, Russia is likely to exploit the halt to push for battlefield gains, the ISW said. This has happened near Avdiivka, in the Donetsk region in mid-January 2024 and in the Kursk region following the suspension of U.S. intelligence-sharing in early March 2025. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the U.S. move Wednesday saying the fewer weapons Ukraine receives, the sooner the war ends. The ISW said the suspension will consolidate Vladimir Putin's theory he can win a war of attrition with slow advances by outlasting Western support for Ukraine. Boyechko, from Hope for Ukraine, a group helping communities near the front line, told Newsweek Ukrainian civilians will bear the brunt of the U.S. aid freeze. Ukraine needed air defense weapons more than ever as Moscow steps up its daily attacks on civilian targets, he added. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), the co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, posting on X, he will be "demanding accountability" for the move and sent a letter to the White House. Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX) said the freeze comes "at the wrong time" and will look into whether it breaches 2024 legislation on aid to Ukraine, Politico reported. And Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the decision, "fallacious and maybe even disingenuous." What People Are Saying White House spokesperson Anna Kelly: "This decision was made to put America's interests first following a review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe." Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and founder of Hope for Ukraine: "The decision by the White House to freeze shipments of air defense and precision-guided weapons to Ukraine is dangerous and irresponsible." "These are defensive weapons that the Ukrainian military uses to protect civilians from daily attacks by Russian missiles and drones." Representative Brian Fitzpatrick wrote on X: "Ukraine's courage must continue to be met with action, and the United States must continue to lead with clarity and purpose." What Happens Next Fitzpatrick has called on the White House and the Department of Defense to hold an emergency briefing but as of Wednesday, it was unclear when the pause would start after Ukraine's Defense Ministry said it has not received formal notification of delays or cancellations.
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Zelensky Issues Defiant Three-Word Response to Trump-Putin Call
Kyiv will not meet Vladimir Putin's request for Ukraine to withdraw troops from its four partially occupied regions, Volodymyr Zelensky has said. The Ukrainian leader said "it's our land," in a briefing to reporters on Monday, according to The Kyiv Independent on the day when the Russian president and U.S. President Donald Trump held a much-touted phone call. Yuriy Boyechko, CEO of humanitarian group Hope for Ukraine, told Newsweek Putin's ceasefire demands, which include Ukrainian forces leaving all of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, were "impossible to meet." Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment. In September 2022, Moscow claimed to have annexed the four Ukrainian regions and to this day it does not fully control them. Putin illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. Kyiv has repeatedly rejected any suggestion it would surrender the regions. Zelensky's comment Monday reiterates what Kyiv considers untenable as Putin has not shifted from his maximalist goals. It shows a deal is far off despite Trump's optimism following his two-hour phone call with the Russian president. Trump and Putin held a phone call on Monday with the U.S. president saying he had agreed with his Russian counterpart that Moscow and Kyiv would immediately begin bilateral negotiations about both a ceasefire and a peace agreement. Trump also said that he called Zelensky, and the leaders of Kyiv's European allies, suggesting that the Vatican could be a venue for talks. Putin told journalists he and Trump agreed Russia would present Ukraine with a "memorandum" detailing conditions and timing for a future peace treaty. This reiterates Kremlin rhetoric about eliminating the war's "root causes," which would include the current Ukrainian government being swapped with a Russian proxy and a declawing of its military. Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine's readiness for a full unconditional ceasefire as Trump had previously proposed and said Kyiv was ready for direct negotiations with Russia as long as it stopped protracting negotiations and failing to offer concessions. But the Ukrainian president told a press briefing, "it's our land, we won't withdraw our troops from our territory" the Kyiv Independent reported. He added if Putin demands what he knows Kyiv won't agree to, "it means that they don't want peace." Boyechko, from Hope for Ukraine, which provides aid to those in the war-torn country, told Newsweek that Kyiv has repeatedly said it would not surrender the four regions of Ukraine Moscow claims without a fight. Nor would it agree to ceasefire terms that demanded the cessation of western weapons and restrictions on Ukraine's armed forces and their mobilization. Boyechko said that this demand showed Putin's intention to push deeper into the country to get as close to Kyiv as possible and make a move for the Dnipro, Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Eric Lies, fellow of alliance strategy at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI USA), told Newsweek that Putin has consistently slow rolled ceasefire talks, pressed for concessions and then skipped negotiations entirely. This adds to the case for continued western military support to Ukraine while pushing for a ceasefire is key to securing meaningful stoppages in the fighting. "Until Putin is shown that he cannot continue fighting in Ukraine without unacceptable losses he won't stop fighting," Lies said. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, per the Kyiv Independent: "It's our land, we won't withdraw our troops from our territory." U.S. President Donald Trump: "I think something's going to happen. And if it doesn't, I just back away, and they're going to have to keep going." Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and Founder of Hope for Ukraine: "Putin is coming in with two demands to Ukraine and Western allies that will be impossible to meet." Justin Logan, director of defense and foreign policy studies at the CATO institute, a Washington, DC think tank, said Putin has been reluctant to move forward on a short-term ceasefire without progress on creating a new security order in Europe. With little movement of the front lines, Russia retains advantages over Ukraine that Western aid has not changed, he told Newsweek. There will be anticipation over whether direct talks can be held at a third location, such as the Vatican, as Trump has suggested, and more importantly, whether this can shift the dial. Related Articles NATO Ally Gives Blunt Assessment of Trump-Putin CallUkraine's NATO Ally Can Shoot Down Russian Drones Under New LawRussia Classifies Population Data as Birth Rates Plunge to 200-Year LowDonald Trump Reacts After Calls With Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Zelensky Issues Defiant Three-Word Response to Trump-Putin Call
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Kyiv will not meet Vladimir Putin's request for Ukraine to withdraw troops from its four partially occupied regions, Volodymyr Zelensky has said. The Ukrainian leader said "it's our land," in a briefing to reporters on Monday, according to The Kyiv Independent on the day when the Russian president and U.S. President Donald Trump held a much-touted phone call. Yuriy Boyechko, CEO of humanitarian group Hope for Ukraine, told Newsweek Putin's ceasefire demands, which include Ukrainian forces leaving all of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, were "impossible to meet." Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the media during a press briefing after his phone talks with the US president, in Kyiv, on May 19, 2025. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the media during a press briefing after his phone talks with the US president, in Kyiv, on May 19, It Matters In September 2022, Moscow claimed to have annexed the four Ukrainian regions and to this day it does not fully control them. Putin illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. Kyiv has repeatedly rejected any suggestion it would surrender the regions. Zelensky's comment Monday reiterates what Kyiv considers untenable as Putin has not shifted from his maximalist goals. It shows a deal is far off despite Trump's optimism following his two-hour phone call with the Russian president. What To Know Trump and Putin held a phone call on Monday with the U.S. president saying he had agreed with his Russian counterpart that Moscow and Kyiv would immediately begin bilateral negotiations about both a ceasefire and a peace agreement. Trump also said that he called Zelensky, and the leaders of Kyiv's European allies, suggesting that the Vatican could be a venue for talks. Putin told journalists he and Trump agreed Russia would present Ukraine with a "memorandum" detailing conditions and timing for a future peace treaty. This reiterates Kremlin rhetoric about eliminating the war's "root causes," which would include the current Ukrainian government being swapped with a Russian proxy and a declawing of its military. Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine's readiness for a full unconditional ceasefire as Trump had previously proposed and said Kyiv was ready for direct negotiations with Russia as long as it stopped protracting negotiations and failing to offer concessions. But the Ukrainian president told a press briefing, "it's our land, we won't withdraw our troops from our territory" the Kyiv Independent reported. He added if Putin demands what he knows Kyiv won't agree to, "it means that they don't want peace." Boyechko, from Hope for Ukraine, which provides aid to those in the war-torn country, told Newsweek that Kyiv has repeatedly said it would not surrender the four regions of Ukraine Moscow claims without a fight. Nor would it agree to ceasefire terms that demanded the cessation of western weapons and restrictions on Ukraine's armed forces and their mobilization. Boyechko said that this demand showed Putin's intention to push deeper into the country to get as close to Kyiv as possible and make a move for the Dnipro, Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Eric Lies, fellow of alliance strategy at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI USA), told Newsweek that Putin has consistently slow rolled ceasefire talks, pressed for concessions and then skipped negotiations entirely. This adds to the case for continued western military support to Ukraine while pushing for a ceasefire is key to securing meaningful stoppages in the fighting. "Until Putin is shown that he cannot continue fighting in Ukraine without unacceptable losses he won't stop fighting," Lies said. What People Are Saying Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, per the Kyiv Independent: "It's our land, we won't withdraw our troops from our territory." U.S. President Donald Trump: "I think something's going to happen. And if it doesn't, I just back away, and they're going to have to keep going." Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and Founder of Hope for Ukraine: "Putin is coming in with two demands to Ukraine and Western allies that will be impossible to meet." What Happens Next Justin Logan, director of defense and foreign policy studies at the CATO institute, a Washington, DC think tank, said Putin has been reluctant to move forward on a short-term ceasefire without progress on creating a new security order in Europe. With little movement of the front lines, Russia retains advantages over Ukraine that Western aid has not changed, he told Newsweek. There will be anticipation over whether direct talks can be held at a third location, such as the Vatican, as Trump has suggested, and more importantly, whether this can shift the dial.
Boston Globe
28-01-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Many Ukrainian aid groups stop work after Trump's halt on foreign assistance
Yuriy Boyechko, the founder and chief executive officer of Hope for Ukraine, which works with US-funded Ukrainian groups to supply firewood to front-line residents, said the impact of the halt in funding would be immediate. Deliveries will stop suddenly, he said, leaving people on their own in the middle of winter. 'They're going to feel the effect of this next week,' Boyechko said in an interview. 'This is just extremely harmful because you have millions of people in front-line areas near Kherson and Kharkiv who have been living without light for a long time. For them, firewood has been the only source of heat and a way to prepare food.' Advertisement Ivona Kostyna, chair of Veteran Hub, an organization that supports veterans and their families, said that the organization had stopped two major programs: one that works with Ukrainian employers on employment policies for veterans, and another that provides space for veterans. 'It is on pause, but in fact for us, 90 days of pause means losing our team, our space, our clients' trust,' she said. The sudden stop in funding 'undermines the reliability of the partnership,' Kostyna said. After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 set off, by some accounts, the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, European nations shouldered most of the burden of taking in refugees who fled Ukraine. The United States, for its part, helped to limit the flow of refugees by funding humanitarian programs that assisted internally displaced people. Advertisement An Agency for International Development spokesperson in Washington confirmed Tuesday to The New York Times that all programs and grants without a waiver approved by the secretary of state had been paused for 90 days, while the audit is continuing. The State Department said in a statement that the aid freeze was justified by the need to 'refocus on American national interests' and that it would no longer 'blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.' US Embassy officials in Ukraine requested exemptions to preserve aid for the country, according to Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, a Ukrainian lawmaker. The Financial Times first reported the request. In an interview, Yurchyshyn said discussions about granting waivers for Ukrainian assistance were continuing. Continuing the aid, Yurchyshyn said, will counter 'the narrative of totalitarian countries that democracies are unstable partners, and you can never be sure democracies will help you.' The Trump administration's threat to indefinitely cut all aid also has some groups fearing retribution if they speak out against the freeze. Ukraine also has numerous media projects that survive on grants, allowing them to stay independent. Dozens of media organizations in Ukraine are now calling for support. Bogdan Logvynenko, a founder at Ukrainer, which publishes articles about Ukraine in foreign languages, said he did not expect that financing from the United States would resume after the 90-day audit was completed. 'Our only chance is ourselves,' he said in a plea for public donations. Ukrainian independent media currently receive more than 80 percent of their funding from the United States, Logvynenko said. Advertisement This article originally appeared in
New York Times
28-01-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Many Ukrainian Aid Groups Stop Work After Trump's Halt on Foreign Assistance
A week after the Trump administration abruptly ordered a sweeping halt to U.S. foreign development aid, the effect is already being felt in war-torn Ukraine. Several humanitarian organizations say they have been forced to suspend operations, including assistance to war veterans and internally displaced people. The orders, which were issued while the Trump administration conducts a 90-day audit of foreign aid, have sent a chill through humanitarian organizations in Ukraine, which depend heavily on such assistance. The United States, the largest single source of aid to Ukraine, has provided more than $37 billion in humanitarian aid, development assistance and direct budget support since the beginning of the war nearly three years ago through its Agency for International Development, also known as U.S.A.I.D. Yuriy Boyechko, the founder and chief executive of Hope for Ukraine, which works with U.S.-funded Ukrainian groups to supply firewood to frontline residents, said the impact of the halt in funding would be immediate. Deliveries will stop suddenly, he said, leaving people on their own in the middle of winter. 'They're going to feel the effect of this next week,' Mr. Boyechko said in an interview. 'This is just extremely harmful because you have millions of people in frontline areas near Kherson and Kharkiv who have been living without light for a long time. For them, firewood has been the only source of heat and a way to prepare food.' Ivona Kostyna, chairwoman of Veteran Hub, an organization that supports veterans and their families, said that the organization had already stopped two major programs: one that liaises with Ukrainian employers on employment policies for veterans, and another that provides space for veterans. 'It is on pause, but in fact for us, 90 days of pause means losing our team, our space, our clients' trust,' she said. The sudden stop in funding 'undermines the reliability of the partnership,' Ms. Kostyna said. After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 set off by some accounts the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, European nations shouldered most of the burden of taking in refugees who fled Ukraine. The United States, for its part, helped to limit the flow of refugees by funding humanitarian programs that assisted internally displaced people. A U.S.A.I.D spokesperson in Washington confirmed on Tuesday to The New York Times that all programs and grants without a waiver approved by the secretary of state had been paused for 90 days, while the audit is continuing. The U.S. State Department said in a statement that the aid freeze was justified by the need to 'refocus on American national interests' and that it would no longer 'blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.' American officials at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine requested exemptions to preserve aid for the country, according to Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, a Ukrainian lawmaker. The Financial Times first reported the request. In an interview, Mr. Yurchyshyn said discussions about granting waivers for Ukrainian assistance were continuing. He expressed concern that programs providing emergency food aid would have to pause operations, even though they have been exempted globally from the orders. The funding 'reduces pressure on migration,' he said, as people can remain in their towns when schools and municipal services like water and natural gas operate. The aid agency has funded water system repairs and repairs for schools damaged by Russian artillery shelling. Continuing the aid, Mr. Yurchyshyn said, will also counter 'the narrative of totalitarian countries that democracies are unstable partners, and you can never be sure democracies will help you.' For now, however, most aid appears to have been halted. An email from the State Department to one group, dated Jan. 24 and viewed by The New York Times, said that 'all foreign assistance awards are immediately suspended' and that the group 'must stop all work on the program and not incur any new costs' after Jan. 24. The group was instructed to cancel as many outstanding obligations as possible. The Trump administration's threat to indefinitely cut all aid also has some groups fearing retribution if they speak out against the freeze. In an email seen by The Times, ACTED, a major French organization operating in Ukraine and partly funded by the United States, instructed a Ukrainian partner group to 'stop/suspend all work until further notice.' It added that the group should not 'communicate and comment publicly,' warning that 'organizations may be subject to sanctions globally.' A manager from the Ukrainian partner group, speaking anonymously due to concerns about retaliation, said the directive would force her to lay off nearly 100 employees immediately and not pay their salaries, which are due by the end of the month. The head of a separate Ukrainian organization, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said it had been asked to suspend the development of new projects and rethink portfolios so that no activities related to gender or gay rights issues were listed. Ukraine also has numerous media projects that survive on grants, allowing them to stay independent. Dozens of media organizations in Ukraine are now calling for support. Bogdan Logvynenko, a founder at Ukrainer, which publishes articles about Ukraine in foreign languages, said he did not expect that financing from the United States would resume after the 90-day audit was completed. 'Our only chance is ourselves,' he says in a plea for public donations. Ukrainian independent media currently receive more than by 80 percent of their funding from the United States, Mr. Logvynenko said. Not all groups appear to have been notified that they should halt operations. Oksana Kuiantseva, a board member at the charity foundation East SOS, said that the organization had not received any notice of suspension. Most groups interviewed expressed growing concern. 'The situation shows how close big geopolitics can be,' said Lesyk Yakymchuk, director of Linza, a nongovernmental group. An election in another country can halt, for example, an online learning program for children in Ukraine, he said. 'Such is the obvious dependence and influence on our small lives on this big game.'
