In a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, the Trump administration seems to have ordered at least a partial halt to the intelligence shared with Ukraine, critical to its defense against the ongoing Russian invasion. This revelation comes through communications from military officials and public statements by top Trump administration officials, including national security adviser Mike Waltz and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Waltz indicated in a CBS News interview that a pause is currently in place regarding intelligence sharing, though he did not clarify the extent of these limitations. According to sources, the halt could be lifted if President Trump is convinced that Ukraine is making efforts towards negotiations to end the war. This controversial approach appears to have been tempered following a heated meeting between President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“We are pausing, assessing, looking at everything across our security relationship,” Waltz stated. The findings demonstrate an existing freeze in weapons deliveries, indicating a strategy aimed at exerting pressure on Kyiv to expedite the end of the conflict.
Despite this, Waltz expressed cautious optimism about the situation, referencing Zelensky’s recent announcement indicating readiness for peace negotiations. He mentioned productive discussions about the next steps for negotiations within the past 24 hours, suggesting potential movement towards resolution.
CIA Director Ratcliffe reinforced Waltz’s sentiments on Fox Business, indicating that the pause in intelligence sharing could soon be lifted, contingent upon Ukraine’s actions. He pointed to Zelensky’s statements as a sign of further diplomatic engagement.
The implications of a total and sustained pause in sharing intelligence could be grave for Ukraine’s military capabilities. Sources familiar with operational dynamics indicated that cutting this support might assure a swift Russian victory—a sentiment echoed by a Russian lawmaker who called for the cessation of U.S. intelligence support.
The U.S. has historically provided vital intelligence that has shaped Ukraine’s defensive capabilities, including detailed information on Russian military operations and maneuvers since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Concerns are mounting regarding other critical support systems necessary for Ukraine, including the satellite internet service Starlink, which enables vital communications for military operations. The potential limitation of intelligence sharing is viewed by some U.S. officials as not only a strategic disadvantage for Ukraine but also a betrayal, undermining years of intelligence cooperation that began after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
As the situation develops, military leaders express worry, feeling that the abandonment of Ukraine could have enduring ramifications while raising questions about U.S. commitments to its allies on the global stage. This new policy direction marks a significant evolution in U.S.-Ukraine relations, meriting close observation in the coming weeks.