The United States has suspended its intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a decision that has heightened concerns about America’s commitment to Kyiv, as President Donald Trump’s administration pushes for peace talks with Russia. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz confirmed on Wednesday that the US is “pausing and reviewing” all aspects of its relationship with Ukraine, following the recent halt of military aid to the country.
This move has alarmed European allies. French President Emmanuel Macron has called an urgent meeting of European military chiefs in Paris next week, warning that Europe must be prepared to defend itself independently if US support falters. “I want to believe the US will remain our partner, but we must be ready if that is not the case,” Macron said, urging increased European defense spending. He also revealed that France, along with Ukraine and other partners, had prepared a peace proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
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For Ukraine, which has heavily relied on US intelligence to track Russian movements and target enemy positions since the 2022 invasion, this suspension comes at a critical time. CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Fox Business that the pause was a direct result of President Trump questioning Ukraine’s commitment to peace negotiations. “Trump said, ‘Let’s pause, I want to give you a chance to think about that,'” Ratcliffe explained. Following this, Trump disclosed that Zelensky had sent him a letter agreeing to enter negotiations, suggesting that both military and intelligence cooperation could resume once talks are formalized.
However, a source told Reuters that the intelligence cutoff was comprehensive, affecting the crucial battlefield data Ukraine relies on for countering Russian missile and artillery strikes, though another source hinted that the suspension might be only partial.
This latest development marks a shift in Trump’s foreign policy stance, as he has increasingly adopted a more conciliatory approach toward Moscow since his return to office. His direct engagements with Russian officials have disrupted long-standing alliances, leaving European nations to reexamine their commitments to Ukraine. British and French officials have voiced concerns that a prolonged US disengagement could embolden Russia to escalate its offensive.
Former US deputy assistant secretary of defense Mick Mulroy warned the BBC that cutting off US intelligence would have an immediate and irreplaceable impact on Ukraine’s defense capabilities. “There’s no substitute for the intelligence the US provides, even from our European allies,” he said.
Meanwhile, Trump has linked future US assistance to an economic deal with Ukraine, stating in a Congressional address that Kyiv had agreed to an arrangement granting American firms access to its critical mineral reserves. “If you want to end wars, you have to negotiate with both sides,” Trump declared.
European officials have also expressed discomfort with Trump’s approach, particularly his decision to exclude Ukrainian and European leaders from behind-the-scenes talks with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
The intelligence suspension is expected to have immediate battlefield consequences. Mykola Bielieskov, a researcher at Ukraine’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, warned that Ukraine’s ability to detect and respond to Russian missile threats would be severely compromised, potentially leading to more destruction and casualties.
Although Waltz hinted that both intelligence sharing and military aid might be restored if progress is made in negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, he emphasized that this hinges on establishing confidence-building measures. “If we can nail down these negotiations, the president will seriously reconsider lifting this pause,” he told Fox News.
