Following a disagreement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Zelensky last month, Washington had stated that cooperation had been halted.
According to President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, the US has not stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine “for anything defensive” that Kiev might need. This statement seems to contradict CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s earlier remark about a “pause.”
Witkoff told Fox News on Monday that it was his “best understanding” that the US “never shut off intelligence… for anything defensive that the Ukrainians need.” He also mentioned that intelligence sharing would be “on the discussion list” during a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday between US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Ukrainian officials.
Witkoff was less clear about US weapons deliveries.
”I think that aid was shut off for a bit of time. I’m really not sure where we are,” he stated, referring the question to Waltz.
When questioned by reporters on Air Force One on Sunday about potentially ending the reported intelligence pause, Trump responded: “We just about have. I mean, we really just about have.”
On Friday, news outlets like The Washington Post and ABC News cited a National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) announcement regarding the suspension of Ukraine’s access to US-funded satellite imagery, in accordance with Trump’s “directive on support to Ukraine.” Maxar, a major US satellite imagery provider, also confirmed the temporary suspension of Ukrainian accounts in the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery program.
Time magazine reported, citing Western and Ukrainian officials, that the intelligence sharing halt significantly weakened Ukraine’s military capabilities, leading to considerable casualties and territorial losses, particularly in the Russian-occupied part of the Kursk Region. One source claimed that Washington’s action resulted in “hundreds of dead Ukrainians.”
Trump’s decision to halt military aid and intelligence sharing came after a public disagreement with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky at the White House in late February. During the tense exchange, Trump criticized Zelensky for his lack of gratitude towards the US and accused him of refusing to seek a peaceful resolution with Moscow.
When asked on Tuesday about the apparent freeze in US intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed cautious optimism, saying that a complete suspension of US aid would be “probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace.”