Russia tells Trump ending US support for Ukraine could help end war

Russian officials have stated that halting U.S. support for Ukraine could potentially bring an end to the ongoing conflict. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov made these comments on September 9, just a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump. Ushakov emphasized that the U.S. should cease providing any assistance to Kyiv, as Putin had outlined possible steps the U.S. could take to help end the war during their call.

While the U.S. has withdrawn direct financial and military aid to Ukraine, allies can still purchase American weaponry for Kyiv through a NATO mechanism. Washington continues to share intelligence with Kyiv, aiding their forces in striking targets within Russia. Ushakov's remarks come in the wake of meetings between Trump envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in both Moscow and Kyiv. They presented renewed peace proposals, but no breakthrough was achieved, as Putin appears determined to escalate Russia's war.

President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that the war would likely continue into the winter months, despite the new peace push. The most significant outcome of the Kyiv meeting was an agreement to resume trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia. Moscow remains open to such talks, with the Kremlin considering Abu Dhabi as a preferred venue.

President Putin informed the U.S. envoys on September 5 that he expects Russia to achieve its goals and wants the "root causes" of the war resolved. The Kremlin has consistently rejected a ceasefire and demands that Kyiv cede the strategically important Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Conversely, Ukraine seeks a ceasefire along the present front lines while advocating for Western-backed security guarantees to deter potential Russian aggression in the future.