Is Ukraine really in the dark about suspended U.S. military aid? The U.S. State Department responds to reports claiming Kyiv learned of the aid pause through the media. Spokesperson Tammy Bruce insists communication took place—but Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense says no official notice was ever received. With Trump yet to greenlight new defense packages and stockpiles running low, pressure mounts as the war with Russia enters a critical phase. Are U.S.-Ukraine ties beginning to fray? Find out what’s really going on behind the diplomatic curtain.
00:00Of course, the killing of civilians, with whomever it is that's engaging in these conflicts.
00:07But that is why we're so committed to Gaza, to Israel's right to defend itself.
00:13We were as horrified by October 7th and the slaughter of those civilians.
00:18We don't make decisions about the shipping of weapons or the managing of weaponry during war.
00:24We have the Department of Defense. I would refer you to them when it comes to this kind of a decision.
00:30President Trump to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end through a durable negotiated settlement, starting with an immediate ceasefire.
00:39A ceasefire is important, but it can't be back and forth.
00:42There has to be a durable end to all of these conflicts.
00:47Thanks, Tammy. A White House official told our colleagues that the Trump administration has paused certain weapons shipments to Ukraine.
00:54What was the State Department's role in making this decision to pause these weapons shipments?
00:58And are you concerned about the advantage it gives to the Russians?
01:01Well, traditionally, of course, I mean, our wheelhouse here is diplomacy.
01:06We don't make decisions about the shipping of weapons or the managing of weaponry during war.
01:13We have the Department of Defense. I would refer you to them when it comes to this kind of a decision.
01:19At the same time, we've got a few things I can say to you regarding this.
01:25It remains, as you might imagine, worth repeating, a priority of President Trump to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end through a durable negotiated settlement,
01:35starting with an immediate ceasefire.
01:38And, of course, just repeating, referring you to the Department of Defense for more information regarding that situation, regarding weapons.
01:45Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson, also has noted,
01:49This decision was made to put America's interests first following a DOD review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries around the globe.
02:01The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned.
02:05Just ask Iran.
02:06Also, from a statement by Eldridge Colby from the 2nd, which was yesterday, at the DOD,
02:15that the Department of Defense, quote, continues to provide the President with robust options to continue military aid to Ukraine.
02:23At the same time, the Department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective,
02:29while also preserving U.S. forces' readiness for administration's defense priorities.
02:36Can I quickly ask, on GHF, the State Department announced last week that you had approved $30 million.
02:42Has any of that money been disbursed yet?
02:44And if so, how much?
02:46It has been fully approved.
02:48It has not been disbursed.
02:50There is a process, as you all might imagine, in the building regarding the dispersal of any funds.
02:55And when that happens, I will let you guys – we'll be the first ones to know.
02:59I have two questions on Ukraine.
03:01I want to press you a little bit more.
03:02I know you referred to the Defense Department.
03:04Yes.
03:04But the Ukrainians appear to have learned about it from the media this morning.
03:09Is there any reason behind the failure when it comes to communicating this to the Ukrainian allies?
03:15I would argue that that is not correct.
03:19Obviously, perhaps some Ukrainians heard about it in the news.
03:22Our communication lines with Ukraine have always been robust.
03:27They – while it was not – well, I will not discuss who delivered the news, but that is a conversation, clearly, that is something that occurred because of the importance of this project to the United States.
03:42We have been Ukraine's biggest supporter emotionally, militarily, financially, and there's a reason for that.
03:50At the same time, as we've also said, and the President has said, and the Secretary, that we, in fact, have got to make sure – because we have a global front of what matters to America.
04:02And that's why we've been asking our European partners and allies and friends to also chime in because of the nature of the fronts that we are always dealing with around the world.
04:15And that is sometimes a decision.
04:17At the same time, the DoD statement made clear that they have robust options as we continue to work to assist Ukraine when it comes to the options that they might have.
04:28That's from the DoD. And I don't doubt that. So we should, I think, be cautious about judging the nature of what has just occurred, considering our commitment that remains for the country of Ukraine.
04:42I want to take a time, but the President from the get-go made it clear that his American first foreign policy objective when it comes to Russia-Ukraine war is to end the killing.
04:52And these are defensive weapons that Ukraine used for that very reason, to end the killing of Ukrainians by the Russians. How do you square the circle?
04:59Well, it is – it's not – one doesn't need to complete the circle or square it. Our commitment hasn't changed.
05:09The nature of how we're able to make that commitment is going to be based on what is best for America first.
05:15It is the President's point of view, his guiding hand about the nature of what needs to occur.
05:19And it is certainly two nations at war, and America has made a huge difference in that regard, and the President still has worked to have people at the table, that this can only be solved diplomatically.
05:32That, of course, is the State Department's wheelhouse, and that that's what he wants.
05:37He has made several remarks returning to this, now with the Israel-Iran situation at least managed.
05:43And this is not something that the President is not addressing. It is clearly on our plate all the time, and certainly he has specifically referred to the nature of the continued slaughter.
05:57It is unacceptable. It is a horrible dynamic, the targeting of civilian areas. The world knows this. This has been something that's been discussed.
06:05The President has expressed his fury over this issue, and that has not changed.
06:10So, again, be cautious as things move along from day to day.
06:15Just now, you just condemned attacks on civilians in Ukraine.
06:19Of course.
06:19Yesterday, there was an attack on a beach cafe in Gaza where 24 civilians were killed, including our colleagues.
06:25A female journalist was killed as well.
06:28Does the United States condemn the killing of civilians on target of them in Gaza?
06:31Well, we have always – one of the reasons why we do what we do is because no one wants to have civilians killed,
06:38either in a terrorist act, in war – one of the things that the President has repeated, as has Secretary Rubio,
06:46is that the carnage has to stop.
06:47We have decried the killing of civilians throughout every conflict that exists.
06:53At the same time, it's why war is hell.
06:56It's why we want something more than – a ceasefire is important, but it can't be back and forth.
07:01There has to be a durable end to all of these conflicts.
07:07So, we mourn like everyone.
07:10Of course, the killing of civilians.
07:12Whomever it is that's engaging in these conflicts.
07:16But that is why we're so committed to Gaza, to Israel's right to defend itself.
07:23We were as horrified by October 7th and the slaughter of those civilians.
07:27This is why it has to end.
07:29There is aggressive actions where if you're in war, where if you're defending yourself, and these are civilian areas, it's horrible enough.
07:39And it's another to deliberately target civilians for the sake of it.
07:44And those are the monsters that we are trying to stop and that the world has tried to stop for generations now.
07:50So, this is why our work continues in Gaza, why the ceasefire is important, and why the end of war and the status quo that so many people have grown rich from has got to end.
08:04Saeed.
08:06Subscribe to One India and never miss an update.
