On this morning, Eamonn Holmes discussed the significant breaking news regarding President ‘s decision to pause U.S. aid to .
During the segment, Holmes remarked that this follows an “embarrassing” display from Trump towards ‘s president, , who visited the US last week.
His co-host, Ellie Costello, added, “The duration of this pause remains unclear at this time.” However, it appears to stem from Trump’s recent criticisms of global leaders, whom he accused of displaying weakness due to their reliance on American assistance.
This unfolding situation has sparked widespread interest and concern regarding the implications for amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Eamonn labelled Trump “embarrassing” (Image: GB NEWS)
The US is by far the biggest individual donor of military aid to , providing weapons, equipment and financial support.
Between the start of 2022 and the end of 2024, it gave $69bn (£54.6bn) in military aid, according to German think tank the Kiel Institute, external.
“We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution,” a White House official said of the controversial move.
The pair argued when they came face to face last week. (Image: Getty)
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The recent decision follows former President Trump’s dramatic shift in U.S. policy regarding and , which began upon his taking office in January. This change was precipitated by a tense encounter with Ukrainian President at the White House last Friday. During this meeting, Trump openly reprimanded Zelensky, expressing dissatisfaction over what he perceived as a lack of gratitude for the substantial support the U.S. has provided to in its ongoing conflict with .
A senior official commented on the situation: “President Trump has made it unequivocally clear that his primary focus is on achieving peace. Our international partners must demonstrate a similar commitment to that objective. Therefore, we are currently pausing and conducting a thorough review of our aid allocations to ensure they effectively contribute to a sustainable resolution of the conflict.”
Since the onset of ‘s invasion of three years ago, the U.S. Congress has authorised a remarkable total of $175 billion in assistance aimed at bolstering ‘s defense and humanitarian efforts, as reported by the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
The Trump administration took office with a congressional authorisation valued at $3.85 billion, which allowed for the utilisation of U.S. arms stockpiles to support amidst its ongoing conflict with . However, tensions between Washington and Kyiv had already escalated, leading to skepticism regarding the actual deployment of this assistance, making it increasingly unlikely.
Recent developments indicate a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Trump, moving beyond his previous stance of halting new military aid to . This new directive reportedly freezes the delivery of military equipment that had already been approved during ‘s presidency, including various munitions, missile systems, and additional military support vital for ‘s defense efforts.
Despite his apparent frustration with the Ukrainian government, Trump hinted at the possibility of negotiating a deal allowing U.S. investors access to ‘s mineral resources. This suggestion emerged against the backdrop of European leaders proposing potential ceasefire arrangements in the ongoing conflict between and .