Zelenskyy Confirms US Military Aid Is Ongoing Despite US Secretary Of State Rubio’s Pause Announcement

Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reassured the public on Saturday that the United States has not stopped its military aid to Ukraine, despite the recent political transition in Washington. As per reports, Zelenskyy's statement came up after newly sworn-in US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the US would pause foreign aid grants for 90 days. However, Zelenskyy clarified that the military aid, which Ukraine relies on for 40 percent of its defence needs, has not been affected. 

However, Zelenskyy did not clarify whether humanitarian aid had been paused. Ukraine relies on the US for 40 percent of its military needs. “I am focused on military aid; it has not been stopped, thank God,” he said at a press conference with Moldovan President Maia Sandu.

“I am focused on military aid; it has not been stopped, thank God,” Zelenskyy said during a press conference with Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Kyiv. The two leaders met to discuss Moldova’s energy challenges, particularly in the Russian-occupied Transnistria region, which has faced a gas supply halt since January 1. Ukraine has offered to supply coal to help with the energy shortfall.

The future of US aid to Ukraine is uncertain, especially with US President Donald Trump beginning his second term in office. Trump has repeatedly said that had he been president during the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the conflict could have been avoided. He also suggested that Zelenskyy should have negotiated with Putin to prevent the war, and threatened to impose tough sanctions on Russia if a peace agreement isn't reached soon.

Zelenskyy, who has had positive discussions with Trump in the past, remained firm in his stance, stating, "This can only be done with Ukraine, and otherwise, it simply will not work because Russia does not want to end the war, and Ukraine does."

Meanwhile, the conflict continues to intensify in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk region, where Russian forces have been trying to break through Ukraine’s defences. Ukrainian forces have had to abandon several towns and villages due to Russia’s ongoing offensive. Russia's Defence Ministry, on Friday, claimed that its troops had entered the centre of the strategic town of Velyka Novosilka, though this claim couldn’t be independently verified.

In addition to the ongoing military clashes, civilians are continuing to suffer from Russian shelling. Three civilians were reported killed on Saturday in the Russian-occupied Kherson region, and Russian forces launched missiles and drones overnight, hitting various areas across Ukraine.

Ukrainian air defences shot down both missiles and many of the drones, but the attacks still caused significant damage, including fires and casualties in the Kyiv, Cherkasy, and Khmelnytskyi regions. In the Kharkiv region, drones also targeted several districts, damaging infrastructure and injuring three people.