President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in their phone conversation on Friday that he did not decide to stop arms deliveries to Kiev, signaling openness to continue American military aid to Ukraine.
Trump informed Zelensky that he did indeed order a review of Pentagon’s ammunition stocks after the US attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities last month, but did not order the Department of Defense to freeze arms deliveries, sources familiar with the conversation between the two leaders told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Zelensky, in turn, suggested after his phone call with Trump that Ukraine may have reasons for optimism.
"This was probably the best conversation during all this time, it was extremely productive. I am grateful for the willingness to help," Zelensky said in his Saturday address to the nation.
The conversation took place shortly after Trump publicly admitted he was "very disappointed" and "made no progress" towards a peace agreement in Ukraine in a separate phone call he had on Thursday with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Trump urged Putin to end the war during the call, but Putin refused, according to the Kremlin.
- Trump spoke with Putin: "Russia will not give up its objectives"
- Trump considers new sanctions against Russia: Putin just wants to kill people! (Video)
Trump assured Zelensky that the US will send as much military aid as they can, WSJ sources said. But deliveries remain on hold, according to a Pentagon spokesperson.
Who ordered the review of arms stocks
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated in a briefing on Monday that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth was the one who ordered the review of stocks when he took office, "to ensure that everything going out the door aligns with America's interests."
The halt of arms deliveries to Ukraine, reported last Tuesday, surprised other parts of the American government, including the State Department and members of Congress, as well as Kiev.
Following the phone call between Trump and Putin, Russia launched the largest drone and missile attack on Kiev and other Ukrainian cities since the beginning of the war, according to the Ukrainian Air Forces.
After previously blaming Zelensky for the continued conflict, Trump told reporters last month at the NATO summit in The Hague that Putin proves to be the "most difficult" partner in reaching a peace agreement.
The halted transport to Kiev includes Patriot anti-missile interceptors, AIM-120 anti-aircraft missiles, howitzer cartridges, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, GMLRS rockets for Himars rocket launchers, Stinger anti-tank missiles, and grenade launchers, as reported by WSJ.