The Kremlin has welcomed the US pause in military aid to Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov told journalists that the decision could genuinely push Ukraine towards a peace process. “This would probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace,” he added.
Peskov stated that he expected European countries to try to “compensate” for the shortfall in US ammunition supplies. “But, of course, the main volume has still been coming from the US, through US channels,” he said.
The Kremlin Spokesperson welcomed media reports that the US is considering a plan for possible sanctions relief for Russia.
It was reported on Monday that the US was drawing up a plan to potentially ease sanctions on Russia as President Donald Trump seeks to restore ties with Moscow and end the war in Ukraine.
“Our position on sanctions is well known – we consider them illegal. Of course, if we’re talking about normalising bilateral relations, they need to be freed from this negative burden of so-called sanctions.”
Dmitry Peskov
Also, Hungary’s government offered support to the Donald Trump administration’s decision.
A spokesperson for Viktor Orbán’s government said that the US President and the Hungarian government “share the same stance: instead of continuing weapons shipments and the war, a ceasefire and peace talks are needed as soon as possible.”
Military Aid Suspension Likened To Munich agreement
However, Oleksandr Merezhko, the Chair of Ukraine’s parliamentary foreign affairs committee, opined that the Trump administration move to suspend military aid to Ukraine resembled the appeasement of Adolf Hitler with the Munich agreement of 1938.
The senior Ukrainian lawmaker said that to stop aid now means to help Putin.
“On the surface, this looks really bad. It looks like [Donald Trump] is pushing us towards capitulation, (accepting) Russia’s demands. The main thing is that this a psychological blow, a political blow upon Ukraine, it doesn’t help our spirit.
“This is worse than Munich, because at least there they didn’t try to paint Czechoslovakia as the aggressor, but here they try to accuse the victim of aggression – it is extremely dangerous.”
Oleksandr Merezhko
On September 30, 1938, Germany, Britain, France and Italy reached a settlement that permitted Nazi Germany’s annexation of the Sudetenland in what was then western Czechoslovakia.
Poland’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Paweł Wroński said that the decision by the Trump administration to suspend US military aid to Ukraine was taken “without any information, or consultation, neither with NATO allies, nor with the Ramstein group, which is involved in supporting Ukraine in its fight.”
In reaction to the US decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine, Czech Republic’s Prime Minister, Petr Fiala called for a “fundamental shift” in European policy.
“We must strengthen our economic and military capabilities and take full responsibility for our own security. This requires increased investment in defence. Ensuring our security also means intensifying our support for Ukraine. We cannot allow Russia’s aggressive policy, which threatens us all, to succeed.
“The era of relying on others to address fundamental international challenges on our behalf is over. Now is the time for Europe to move decisively from words to action.”
Petr Fiala
Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark’s Defence Secretary, also reacted to the US decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine, saying that there are some things that the Ukrainians are completely dependent on with regards to the Americans.
These, he said, include the missiles used in the Patriot air defence system, “which is American.” “So this will put Europe in a situation where we now really need to do more ourselves to help Ukraine,” he added.
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