Trump won’t resume military aid to Ukraine after minerals deal – NBC

NBC News reports this, emphasizing that while Trump seeks a deal giving the U.S. a stake in Ukraine's mineral resources, he also wants to see changes in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's stance on peace talks, including a willingness to make concessions—such as ceding part of Ukraine’s territory to Russia—and holding elections, which were suspended due to martial law.  

"As President Trump demonstrated by reading President Zelenskyy's message at the joint session, the Ukrainians have made positive progress. During meetings in Saudi Arabia next week, we hope to hear more positive developments that will ultimately bring an end to this brutal war and bloodshed," said White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes in response to Trump's demands.  

Republicans in Congress are urging the White House to restore military aid, and according to the report, optimism about this is growing, especially after Zelenskyy's statement expressing readiness for negotiations.

U.S. aid to Ukraine on hold: What’s known  

President Trump has not publicly announced a halt to U.S. arms supplies for Ukraine, but American media reports suggest he has ordered a freeze on all current military aid until he is convinced that Ukrainian leaders "demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace."  

On Wednesday, March 5, CIA Director John Ratcliffe officially confirmed a temporary suspension of weapons and intelligence support to Ukraine. However, Bloomberg, citing a Ukrainian official, claims Kyiv is still receiving U.S. intelligence.  

National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told Fox News that Trump would consider resuming aid if peace talks are organized and "trust-building measures" are implemented.  

Trump’s press secretary, Caroline Leavitt, described the temporary halt in U.S. assistance as a "pause for review."  

Meanwhile, U.S. Special Representative for Russia and Ukraine Keith Kellogg stated that the aid suspension is meant to "push Ukrainians toward negotiations."

• The U.S. has rejected Canada’s G7 proposal to establish a task force to crack down on Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers.