This aid suspension shock is not the first time, but it is more dangerous. The US previously suspended aid to Ukraine in the summer of 2023 when the Republican Party blocked President Joe Biden's largest military aid package. At that time, Ukraine managed to overcome the situation thanks to ammunition from Europe.
However, this time the situation is more serious, according to BBC. The $60 billion aid package approved by the US Congress in the spring of 2024 has helped Ukraine block Russia's counterattack in Kharkiv. Without such timely assistance, Kiev would have had a hard time holding its defense.
Just like 2024, it could take another several months to feel the impact of US aid cuts, at least in terms of ammunition and weapons.
Currently, Europe provides 60% of total aid to Ukraine, more than the US. However, a Western official described US support as the "most elite" in the arsenal, implying that US military aid is not only in quantity but also has superior strategic value and quality compared to other sources.
Advanced air defense systems such as patriot and NASAMS, long-range missiles such as HIMARS and ATACMS are all from the US.
Not only about quality but also about quantity. As the world's most powerful army, the US has been able to send hundreds of surplus Humvee and armored vehicles - a number that Europe's smaller armies could never match.
While Europe has increased the production of artillery shells, US high-precision weapons are still the "trump card" to help Ukraine destroy high-value targets.
While the lack of military aid may not immediately impact the battlefield, a more serious immediate impact could be disruption of intelligence sharing. The US is a leader in space monitoring, data collection and communications.
The Starlink satellite network of billionaire Elon Musk has become the communication artery of the Ukrainian army, helping to coordinate attacks by artillery and drones.
The Pentagon admitted to sponsoring Starlink in part. But now, with his growing role in the Trump administration and his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Elon Musk may no longer be willing to pay the fee.
The temporary suspension of aid not only puts Ukraine at risk of life and death but also acts as a political move to force Kiev to sit at the negotiating table with Moscow sooner.
The European allies hope this is just a "temporary silence". But if it continues, that gap could become a mang war that plunges Ukraine into a more fierce survival war than ever.
