As Russia ramps up attacks, US announces cuts to military support to Ukraine

Amid increasing Russian attacks, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced cuts to the military support to Ukraine.

While the United States had been Ukraine’s principal supporter since Russia invaded the country in 2022, President Donald Trump has not just withdrawn active support but has essentially aligned himself with Vladimir Putin as he has accepted all demands of the Russian leader and trashed Ukraine frequently — often resorting to falsehoods and repeating Russian talking points.

Hegseth said at a congressional hearing on Tuesday that the support to Ukraine will see a reduction in the upcoming federal budget as the Donald Trump administration had a very different view of the conflict.

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Hegseth said, “This administration takes a very different view of that conflict. We believe that a negotiated peaceful settlement is in the best interest of both parties and our nation’s interests, especially with all the competing interests around the globe.”

Hegseth did not go into the specifics of cuts.

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While the United States has largely continued to provide Ukraine with military supplies approved under the previous Joe Biden administration and cleared by Congress, the Trump administration has not announced any fresh assistance. Moreover, it recently emerged that Trump diverted as much as 20,000 anti-drone missiles marked for Ukraine to US forces in West Asia.

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The diversion of anti-drone missiles and announcement of cuts to military aid have come at a time when Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraine. For weeks, Russia has been launching hundreds of drones and missiles into Ukraine on a near-daily basis. Russia on Sunday launched the largest aerial attack of the war on Ukraine with 479 drones and 20 missiles. Russia has killed dozens in such attacks.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly sought air defence systems from the United States and other Western partners. He has offered to buy those systems. However, Trump has dismissed the need of air defence systems and has called Zelenskyy a warmonger for seeking air defence systems.

One of the many occasions that he has used to trash Ukraine and Zelenskyy, Trump said that Zelenskyy is “always looking to purchase missiles”. He has further accused Zelenskyy, former President Biden, and Nato of starting the war.

“President Zelenskyy and Crooked Joe Biden did an absolutely horrible job in allowing this travesty to begin. There were so many ways of preventing it from ever starting,” said Trump in April.