IRKUTSK, March 4. /TASS/. The suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine has emerged as a significant development from both political and military perspectives, indicating that President Donald Trump does not intend to "wash his hands of the Ukrainian conflict," according to Andrey Bystritsky, the chairman of the board at the Foundation for the Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club. He made these remarks to TASS on the sidelines of the club's 5th Central Asian Conference.
"The suspension should be taken seriously," Bystritsky emphasized. "It has been explicitly stated that all aid will be halted. Any supplies currently being airlifted or shipped by sea will not reach Ukraine. This includes, for example, certain types of shells and ammunition. Meanwhile, specific shells are being produced in the United States - if not exclusively in the U.S., it is certainly the main supplier. Other suppliers either cannot or have not yet begun to provide them. This is quite serious," the analyst noted.
From a political standpoint, Bystritsky described the aid suspension as "an interesting indicator of what transpired on February 28," when Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had a confrontation with Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance during his visit to the White House. "There were numerous speculations that, following this incident, Trump would step back and refrain from actively engaging in the conflict, effectively washing his hands of it," the expert explained. "But look, he sent a clear signal: you may have been showing off, but I wasn't joking; I said what I intended to do, and I followed through."
Bystritsky does not anticipate that Washington's example will be mirrored by its allies, including those outside Europe. "I don't believe they will be in a hurry right now. I doubt there is an abundance of assistance available, but that’s not the main issue. I think they will proceed according to their own timelines and assess the situation as it evolves. Today, we will observe the reactions of U.S. European allies and, more importantly, the response from Ukraine itself, which will be interesting," Bystritsky concluded.
Earlier, a White House spokesman confirmed the suspension of military aid to Ukraine. According to Reuters, Washington is currently reviewing its assistance to the country. The New York Post specifies that this includes military equipment that is not only en route by air or sea but also stored in transit zones in Poland.