Russia has responded to President Donald Trump’s decision to pause all military aid to Ukraine.

Last night (3 March) the US Government announced they would be suspending all military aid to the Eastern European country, following a tense meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy just days before.

The US had previously been a huge supporter of the Ukrainian military, following Russia’s 2022 invasion, with the previous Biden administration providing Kyiv with over $66.5 billion (£52.3 billion) in aid.

Russia has now responded to the news, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling the move ‘best contribution to the cause of peace’.

“If this is true, then this is a decision that can really encourage the Kyiv regime to (come to) the peace process,” Peskov said (via Reuters).

“It is obvious that the United States has been the main supplier of this war so far. If the United States stops being (an arms supplier) or suspends these supplies, it will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace.”

Peskov previously spoke about the Trump administration’s shift in foreign policy over the weekend, saying the Republican president’s coincided with their ‘vision’.

“The new administration is rapidly changing all foreign policy configurations,” he told a reporter from Russian state media on Wednesday, with the comments later published on Sunday (2 March) via The Guardian.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

“This largely coincides with our vision.”

Peskov continued: “There is a long way to go, because there is huge damage to the whole complex of bilateral relations. But if the political will of the two leaders, President Putin and President Trump, is maintained, this path can be quite quick and successful.”

Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov has also praised 78-year-old US leader, calling his approach to Ukraine ‘common sense’.

Meanwhile numerous European leaders have since reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, with UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer chairing a summit with various NATO leaders in the aftermath of Zelenskyy and Trump’s public fall out.

“We remain absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort,” a UK government spokesperson said earlier today, after the decision to suspend military aid was confirmed.

“It is the right thing to do, and is in our interest to do so.”

Relations between Ukraine and the US have been tense since the White House meeting (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

The spokesperson added: “In addition, we’ve set up a partnership with Ukraine that allows them to use £1.6 billion of UK export finance to buy 5,000 air defence missile manufactured in Belfast, putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position for peace.”

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in an all out conflict since 24 February 2022, when Russian military invaded the Eastern provinces of the country. Russian forces currently occupy numerous oblasts in the east of Ukraine, while the Ukrainian military has taken small amounts of Russian territory along the boarder.

Here is how the Russian government has responded to the US President Donald Trump’s decision to pause all military aid to neighbouring Ukraine.

International relations have been spiralling since Trump’s disastrous meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday (28 February) at the White House, which saw the US leader tell Zelenskyy he was ‘gambling with World War III’ during an explosive televised argument.

The US government had been providing extensive military support to Ukraine since Russia invaded the eastern part of the country on 24 February, 2022, with Joe Biden’s administration providing the Kyiv government with $66.5 billion (£52.3 billion) in military aid before the end of his term.

Meaning that Trump’s decision to suspend support – which the administration supports their broader aim of ‘peace’ in the region – will come as a major blow to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy’s government is yet to respond publicly to the move, however Russia‘s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has, branding Trump’s decision ‘the best contribution to the cause of peace.’

“It is obvious that the United States has been the main supplier of this war so far. If the United States stops being (an arms supplier) or suspends these supplies, it will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace,” the Kremlin spokesperson said, via Reuters.

The explosive meeting between the US and Ukrainian leaders was broadcast for the world to see (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The move was also backed by foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov who called the president’s statements on Ukraine ‘common sense’.

Statements from the Kremlin praising Trump’s dedication to peace come amid reports that Russian military forces launched an overnight drone attack against energy infrastructure near the southern city of Odesa, injuring four people.

“A strike has damaged energy infrastructure, there are power cuts in parts of the city,” regional governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram, via Sky News.

Various leaders have since reaction to the US decision to pause aid, with a UK government spokesperson saying Britain remains ‘absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine’.

Russian officials have since reacted to the US decision to pause military aid to Ukraine (MIKHAIL METZEL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Vice-President JD Vance has doubled-down on his and Trump’s stance regarding Ukraine, saying the Eastern European country needs to give the US an economic interest in the region.

“If you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine,” he said.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister has since said the country was ‘very grateful’ for US support and was still committed to signing the minerals agreement.

Vance also criticised the decision of Britain and France to volunteer peacekeeping forces to the region, claiming the military forces from both nations hadn’t ‘fought a war in 30 or 40 years’.

A spokesperson for the UK government has shared a statement in response to Donald Trump’s decision to pause of military aid to Ukraine.

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s all gone a bit t*ts up on the global political stage. What was intended to be a routine visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House to sign a minerals agreement with the US went horribly, horribly wrong after the pair ended up having a public bust-up in the Oval Office.

The following days have seen numerous European countries reaffirm their support for Zelenskyy, amid Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, while President Trump and his ‘first buddy’ Elon Musk decided to call out the Ukrainian leader on social media.

Not content with accusing Zelenskyy of ‘gambling with WW3’, Trump has now announced the decision to pause all military aid to Ukraine, with a White House aid insisting the decision will secure peace between the two nations.

“President [Trump] has been clear that he is focused on peace,” White House official anonymously told Sky News.

“We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that is contributing to a solution.”

The UK government has now responded to the latest development, with a spokesperson telling Sky News that ministers are ‘absolutely committed’ to achieving piece in Ukraine.

Kier Starmer has been vocal in his support for the Ukrainian leader (Toby Melville – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“We remain absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort,” a UK government spokesperson has said.

“It is the right thing to do, and is in our interest to do so.”

The spokesperson went on to reference the UK government’s recent decision to provide further military aid to Ukraine, which includes an annual £3 billion for ‘as long as it takes’ as well as releasing £2.26 billion from frozen Russian assets in the form of a loan.

Emphasising the support is to guarantee Ukraine will be in a position to negotiate peace with Russia, the spokesperson added: “In addition, we’ve set up a partnership with Ukraine that allows them to use £1.6 billion of UK export finance to buy 5,000 air defence missile manufactured in Belfast, putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position for peace.”

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has also addressed the shocking development in a new interview, telling BBC Radio 4 that the PM is ‘laser-focused’ on achieving peace.

“He’s laser-focused on getting peace. He won’t be derailed by announcements,” she said.

Several NATO countries have since promised to step up their support for Ukraine (Justin Tallis – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“He will continue that dialogue with our oldest and strongest ally, the US, and with European partners and with Ukraine.”

The US president’s decision to pause military aid will come as a huge blow to Ukraine, with former President Biden giving the Eastern European country $66.5 billion (£52.3 billion) since Russia invaded on 24 February 2022.

A report from The New York Times adds that $1 billion (£787.3 million) in arms and ammunition have now been withheld by the US, meaning that Ukraine will now have to negotiate with private contractors.

Donald Trump has made the decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine following a tense meeting with the European country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday (28 February).

The US Government announced the order following a meeting between President Trump and senior advisors on Monday (3 March) to discuss the aid and its future.

The decision came after an argument with President Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, in a meeting in front of the media.

Trump accused Zelenskyy of ‘gambling with WW3’, while Russian officials praised the US President’s handling of the situation, even calling Zelenskyy a ‘scumbag’.

A White House official anonymously revealed to Sky News: “President [Trump] has been clear that he is focused on peace.

“We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that is contributing to a solution.”

There is currently no set length in place, while Ukraine have yet to respond to the move, as the pause will go into effect immediately.

Zelenskyy had recently claimed that peace was ‘very, very far away’, with Trump calling it ‘the worst statement that could have been made’.

Speaking on his on social media platform, Truth Social, the 47th US President said: “America will not put up with it for much longer!”

“It is what I was saying, this guy [Zelenskyy] doesn’t want there to be peace as long as he has America’s backing,” he claimed.

The Presidents were at odds during Friday’s meeting (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

A second White House official stated to Fox News: “This is not permanent termination of aid, it’s a pause,

“The orders are going out right now.”

It had been reported by the New York Times that over $1 billion (£787.3 million) in arms and ammunition will be withheld by the US, with Ukraine now forced to deal with private contractors.

The Biden administration provided Kyiv with over $66.5 billion (£52.3 billion) in military aid since the nation’s war with Russia began.

It left around $3.85 billion (£3 billion) in authorised funding that could send more weapons to Ukraine from existing American stockpiles, which has been left unaffected following the foreign aid freeze Trump put on once he was in office.

While Biden stopped the deliveries of deadly bombs to Israel following concerns in Gaza, Trump has made this move to provide an ultimatum to Zelenskyy, who may face huge losses in the war.

Zelenskyy may be forced to make a decision soon (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

While other members of NATO has promised to help Ukraine following the meeting in the White House last week, none of them have the fire power that the US boasts.

Vice President JD Vance has also spoken out against Zelenskyy, calling him entitled and accusing him of ‘needling’ the US President.

Speaking to Fox News, he explained: “He showed a clear unwillingness to engage in the peace process that Trump said is the policy,” saying that the meeting ‘really set Zelenskyy off’.

“I really don’t care what President Zelenskyy says about me or anybody else. But he showed a clear unwillingness to engage in the peace process that President Trump has said is the policy of the American people and of their president,” he further claimed.