Trump Admin Ends Ukraine Aid

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on April 14 that he is proud of Washington cutting off funding to Ukraine amid Russian aggression, listing it among the Trump administration's top achievements. Speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Athens, Georgia, Vance recalled being confronted by a Ukrainian-American over his calls to halt funding for Ukraine. "And this person got really agitated at me because I was saying we should stop funding the Ukraine war," Vance said. "And I still believe that, obviously, and it's one of the things I'm proudest that we've done in this administration is we've told Europe that if you want to buy weapons, you can, but the United States is not buying weapons and sending them to Ukraine anymore." In a stark shift from the previous administration, U.S. President Donald Trump ended nearly all new aid to Kyiv, leaving Europe to foot the bill for Ukraine's defense. European partners covered the vast majority of military assistance to Ukraine in 2025, including through the purchase of critically important Patriot interceptors and other American-made weapons. Kyiv has reported delays in deliveries and shortages of air defense ammunition amid heavy Russian winter strikes, with the shortfall expected to deepen as the U.S.-Iran conflict strains supply. Vance has been among the most vocal critics of aiding Ukraine within the Trump administration. He played a central role in a public spat between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky in February that led to a brief halt in all U.S. support. The U.S. vice president also accused Zelensky last week of "threatening" Hungary's outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban and suggested that the fate of contested territories in eastern Ukraine amounts to "haggling over... a few square kilometers." Zelensky hit back by pointing out that Vance is not involved in the peace talks, and that the officials who are would likely better understand the value of Ukrainian territory. Martin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian. It only takes $5 to support independent journalism. As global attention shifts to the Middle East, Russia’s war against Ukraine hasn’t stopped — and the Kremlin benefits from the world looking elsewhere. Our newsroom reports from Kyiv to help you understand what’s happening and why it matters. Support our work by becoming a member. Far too often politicians arrogantly, blustering about things for political points. There are many negative adjectives necessary for describing Trump but I dread the possibility that Trump might have to step down or be impeached or whatever. Why? Because then Vance will be president. The phrase "jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire" comes to mind. I usually find myself laughing at the pathetic nonsense that Trump says and does but Vance truly disgusts me. 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