Extract from ABC News
Russia and Ukraine have been fighting over contested territory in Ukraine's east. (Reuters: Alexander Ermochenko)
In short:
The US has cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine for the first time since 2022, just a few days after President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy clashed in the Oval Office.
The suspension of intelligence could hamper Ukraine's ability to fight Russian forces on the battlefield.
The Trump administration had already halted shipments of military aid to Ukraine, part of its efforts to pressure Mr Zelenskyy into negotiating with Russia.
The United States has cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine, in the latest sign of deteriorating relations between Washington and Kyiv.
The move was confirmed by CIA director John Ratcliffe on Wednesday, two days after the Trump administration also paused military aid shipments to Ukraine.
But Mr Ratcliffe also told the Fox Business Network it was possible that both the military aid and intelligence-sharing restrictions could "go away".
"I think we'll work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, as we have, to push back on the aggression that's there, but to put the world in a better place for these peace negotiations to move forward," he said.
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said the US "had taken a step back" and that the administration was "reviewing all aspects" of its intelligence relationship with Ukraine.
Donald Trump says Volodymyr Zelenskyy is interested in re-engaging in talks for a critical minerals deal. (Reuters: Win McNamee)
Mr Waltz also said the US was actively engaged in talks with Ukraine about moving negotiations forward on a minerals deal and a potential peace deal with Russia.
"I think we're going to see movement in very short order," he said.
Three sources familiar with the situation also confirmed to the Reuters news agency that US intelligence sharing had stopped.
It was not immediately clear to what extent the US had cut back on its intelligence cooperation.
The US has been sharing intelligence with Kyiv since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The move also came a day after US President Donald Trump said he had received a letter from Mr Zelenskyy in which the Ukrainian leader expressed a willingness to come to the negotiating table over the Russia-Ukraine war.
Last week, the two leaders clashed in an extraordinary meeting in the Oval Office, which has underscored the worsening relations between the two countries since Mr Trump came to office.
Reuters
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