US freezes intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a critical tool for countering Russian offensive

Donald Trump has not only ordered the suspension of arms transfers to Ukraine but has also halted the Pentagon’s supply of intelligence — critical to countering Russia’s offensive. The decision was confirmed on Wednesday by CIA Director John Ratcliffe in an interview with Fox News.

On Monday, reports emerged that the U.S. president had instructed a halt on the delivery of weapons still pending from former president Joe Biden’s administration. However, it was unclear whether intelligence sharing with Kyiv would continue. The latest revelation is a serious blow to Ukraine, as both its military and political leaders have acknowledged that U.S. intelligence is perhaps the most vital support the country has received in its fight against the invasion.

Ratcliffe explained that Trump made the decision following a heated exchange between the president, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy on February 28 at the White House.

“On the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen [Zelenskiy issued a statement assuring that he would work under Trump’s leadership to achieve peace], will go away and 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,” said the CIA director.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz confirmed the move. The United States has “taken a step back,” the senior official said, to review “all aspects” of its intelligence ties with Ukraine. Waltz, however, has left the door open to rebuilding the relationship with Kyiv—and potentially reversing recent decisions — by indicating that Washington is in contact with its theoretical ally to progress toward an economic agreement on Ukraine’s natural resources and a potential peace deal with Russia.

“I think we’re going to see movement in very short order,” Donald Trump’s top foreign policy advisor told reporters. In side comments, on Fox News, Waltz added: “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’s comments, along with Ratcliffe’s announcement, came just hours after Trump boasted in his speech to both houses of the U.S. Congress on Tuesday night that Zelenskiy had sent him a contrite thank-you message, following the Oval Office confrontation that sparked the crisis. In the message—described by Trump as a letter, but also posted by Zelenskiy on social media — the Ukrainian president argued: “Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians.” He also praised Trump’s “strong leadership” and reaffirmed his willingness to negotiate with Russia, according to Trump.

In his Fox Business interview, Ratcliffe also hinted at the possibility of restoring aid.

Ukrainian authorities are proceeding with caution. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that they had not observed any disruption in U.S. aid, a position echoed by Ukrainian government sources in comments to Bloomberg on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s General Staff and Air Force leadership told EL PAÍS that they could not confirm whether there had been a reduction in intelligence sharing from NATO or the U.S.

Ukraine receives daily intelligence from the U.S. on enemy movements — whether from NATO’s European command or directly from the Pentagon. This includes critical data on Russian bomber takeoffs, the locations of military logistics centers, and troop movements. On Tuesday, the state news agency Ukrinform warned in an analysis that among all the potential losses from a prolonged U.S. blockade, the most damaging would be “that no one will be monitoring Russia 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

It is unclear exactly what information Kyiv may have stopped receiving, but Sky News, citing unnamed sources in the Ukrainian military, reported that the Pentagon is no longer providing documentation on military targets within Russian territory. On Tuesday, British media also revealed, through anonymous sources, that the White House had asked the U.K. not to share with Ukraine intelligence on Russia provided to London by the Pentagon.

Ratcliffe’s announcement has come as a surprise in Ukraine, as it comes just hours after Zelenskiy made a public show of support for Trump’s leadership on social media. The Ukrainian president declared his commitment to “President Trump’s strong leadership” to achieve a lasting peace and even proposed a partial ceasefire with Russia.

He also notably omitted his previous demand that the U.S. guarantee future defense measures in exchange for Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate a ceasefire with Russian President Vladimir Putin. These security guarantees were at the heart of the tense meeting between Zelenskiy and Trump on February 28, with the U.S. president refusing to commit to any specific military aid.

On Wednesday, Zelenskiy spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz by phone. “We all want a safe future for our people,” he said after the call. “Not a temporary ceasefire, but an end to the war once and for all. With our coordinated efforts and U.S. leadership, this is entirely achievable.” His public shift in tone aligns with what he himself said in February: “We will have low chance to survive without support of the United States.”

Ratcliffe argued that Zelenskiy’s change in position was a direct consequence of the pause in U.S. in both military aid and intelligence sharing. The CIA director expressed confidence that the suspension would be lifted, particularly after the letter Zelenskiy sent to Trump. On Tuesday, during his speech before Congress, the U.S. president revealed that he had received a letter from the Ukrainian leader expressing regret over their disagreements and reiterating his willingness to negotiate peace with Russia “as soon as possible” and “under his strong leadership.”

The U.S. has provided between 32% and 40% of Ukraine’s military capabilities throughout the three-year war, playing a crucial role in its air defense systems, artillery, aviation components, precision missiles, and communications infrastructure. Additionally, Starlink — the satellite internet company of Trump ally Elon Musk — remains a vital communications lifeline for thousands of Ukrainian units on the front lines, as well as for the navigation of their drones.

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