The U.S. has cut off intelligence sharing with Kiev, a move that could seriously hinder the Ukrainian military’s ability to target Russian forces, two U.S. officials said.
The decision to cut off intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine clearly illustrates the Trump administration’s willingness to play hard balls with allies to force it to negotiate as relations between countries grow tense.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told reporters Wednesday morning that the U.S. “takes a step back” and the government is “reviewing all aspects of its intelligence relations with Ukraine.”
Three sources familiar with the situation also confirmed to Reuters that U.S. intelligence sharing has stopped. It is unclear to what extent the United States has cut its sharing.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe described it as a pause in an interview with Fox Business Network.
“I think in terms of military fronts and intelligence, there’s a pause, I think it’s going to go away,” Ratcliffe told Fox Business Network.
Experts say reaction time may be affected
The United States has provided key intelligence for Ukraine to fight Moscow’s forces, including thwarting Russian President Vladimir Putin to capture Kief’s momentum when a full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
On Friday, the White House stopped military aid to Kiev at a disastrous Oval Office meeting on Friday, with U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fighting fiercely in front of world media. The conflict delayed the signing of the Ukrainian Ukrainian Investment Fund’s framework for extracting minerals in Ukraine.
Some experts say the suspension of Ukraine’s intelligence-sharing will damage Ukraine’s ability to strike Russian troops, which has occupied about 20% of the country’s territory. Trump criticized US weapons for strikes within Russian territory during the campaign.
“Unfortunately, our dependence on this is very serious, starting with missile threats, missile attacks and taking place with Russia, temporarily occupied territory in the field of launching strikes,” said Mykola Bielieskov, a researcher at the National Institute of Strategic Studies of Ukraine.
He said some of the losses could be offset by purchasing commercial satellite images, but only military satellites can determine missile launches.
The intelligence suspension will also complicate Ukraine’s defense against Russian air and missile strikes, with Bielieskov regularly raiding civilian buildings such as schools and hospitals, killing hundreds of non-combatants.
“We will have less time to react, more destruction, possibly more casualties, and that will make us very, very weaker.”
Cautious optimism about renegotiation
European countries are scrambling to raise defense spending and maintain support for Ukraine after military aid freezes doubts about Washington’s commitment to European NATO allies.
Before the Oval Office blast, Trump also ended Putin’s quarantine through a phone call with Russian leaders and held talks between Russian and American aides in Saudi Arabia and Turkey, with Ukraine and its European allies being excluded.
In a speech to Congress on Tuesday night, Trump said Kiev was preparing to sign a deal on the use of key Ukraine minerals that U.S. leaders demanded that it be repaid for U.S. military aid. He did not provide any further information.
Front burner29:37Post-war orders
Trump also said he had been in “serious discussions with Russia” and received strong signals that they were ready for peace.
“It’s time to end this meaningless war. If you want to end the war, you have to talk to both sides,” he said.
Walz also said that the United States is actively engaged in negotiations with Ukraine on the mineral agreement and a potential peace agreement with Russia.
“I think we’re going to see the movement in a very short time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said in a night speech Wednesday that there was a “active campaign” with the United States, and he expects next week’s results to involve future meetings between the two sides.
In addition, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Yermak said on X that he and Waltz also “exchanged views on security issues and consistency of positions” and planned to hold meetings of Ukrainian and U.S. officials in the near future to continue this important work. ”
