The United States has cut off intelligence-sharing with Kyiv in a move that could seriously hamper the Ukrainian military’s ability to target Russian forces, the CIA’s director has confirmed.
Director John Ratcliffe told Fox that the US paused both weapons shipments and intelligence to Ukraine following the disastrous White House meeting between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and US president Donald Trump last week. He added that he was looking forward to lifting the pause and working with Ukraine on a path to peace.
An unnamed official told the Financial Times that while Ukraine had been frozen out of intelligence channels, the US was still sharing crucial information on Russia and Ukraine with its closest allies, including the UK. Meanwhile, a source told Sky News that American intelligence-sharing had not halted completely, adding that the cut-off was ‘selective.’
When asked whether these reports were true, they said: ‘Unfortunately, yes, but not completely. It is selective. On the possibility of damage on the territory of the Russian Federation.’
But last night, the Mail revealed that Donald Trump‘s administration banned the UK from sharing US intelligence with allies in Ukraine.
American intelligence has been crucial to Ukraine for it to identify Russian military targets during the brutal invasion that began in February 2022.
But in recent weeks, Zelensky and Trump have been quarrelling on the world stage, leading to souring relations between their nations that reached its lowest point last week when the Ukrainian leader was unceremoniously booted out of the White House without signing a long-awaited minerals deal.
Zelensky last night backtracked on this, telling the world he was ready to work under Trump’s ‘strong leadership’ and wants to ‘make things right’ after their ‘regrettable’ White House row. Trump said during his State of the Union speech later that evening that he appreciated the Ukrainian leader’s words.
The major military and intelligence moves came amid serious fears that Ukraine would run out of American military supplies within a few weeks.
Donald Trump (pictured) has cut off intelligence-sharing with Kyiv in a move that could seriously hamper the Ukrainian military’s ability to target Russian forces
Zelensky (pictured) last night told the world he was ready to work under Trump’s ‘strong leadership’ and wants to ‘make things right’ after their ‘regrettable’ White House row
This handout photograph released by the Ukrainian Emergency Service early on March 5, 2025, shows a Ukrainian rescuer working to extinguish a fire at an energy infrastructure facility following an attack at an undisclosed location in Odesa region
A senior Ukrainian intelligence official said that Ukraine would probably run out of the last American military supplies in ‘two or three months’.
‘After that, it will be very difficult for us,’ the official told the Financial Times. ‘It will not be a total collapse, but we will be forced to withdraw from areas more quickly.’
White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said today that Trump will consider restoring aid to Ukraine if peace talks are arranged and confidence-building measures are taken.
‘I think if we can nail down these negotiations and move towards these negotiations, and in fact, put some confidence-building measures on the table, then the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause,’ Waltz said in an interview with Fox News.
Trump’s critics suggested any long-term freeze would lengthen rather than shorten the war, as it would encourage the Kremlin to exploit Kyiv’s dwindling weapons and ammunition stocks and launch a fresh bid for more territory.
Currently, Ukrainian and Russia troops are facing off along a 600-mile frontline, which has gradually been pushed deeper into Ukraine due to Russian advances.
Russia occupies around one fifth of Ukraine, including eastern provinces and the Crimean peninsula.
Ukraine, meanwhile, is clinging on to a relatively small amount of territory it seized last year in the southern Russia province of Kursk.
Zelensky looks on during a visit to a military training area to find out about the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system in Germany, June 11, 2024
City workers clean the rubble of a building destroyed after a drone attack in Odesa on March 5, 2025
A serviceman of the 24th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces makes coffee as he rests in a dugout near the frontline town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region, Ukraine February 28, 2025
Though Ukraine and Russia appear to be taking the first steps towards peace, Trump now appears to be backing away from NATO.
The Mail revealed last night that the US president is considering relinquishing its leadership of NATO after insisting that European allies take more responsibility for the security of the continent.
The US has held its leadership position since the founding of the defence alliance in the aftermath of World War Two. Since then, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe has always been a senior US general.
But in line with the US’ insistence that European allies take more responsibility for Europe’s security, it also expects a British or French general to take up this position.
Trump’s nominee for NATO ambassador attempted to assuage senators last night during a confirmation hearing that the Republican’s support for the defence bloc remained ‘ironclad.’
Matthew Whitaker, who previously served as acting attorney general during Trump’s first term said: ‘President Trump has been clear, the United States remains committed to NATO and to the principle of peace through strength.’
He added: ‘[Support for NATO] will be ironclad.’
More to follow.
