The United States has suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine, further deepening concerns over its commitment to Kyiv, as President Donald Trump’s administration pushes for peace talks with Russia.
The move, confirmed by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz on Wednesday, follows the halting of US military aid to Ukraine earlier this week.
"We have, we have taken a step back," Waltz told reporters when asked about the suspension. He added that the administration was reassessing "all aspects of this relationship."
The decision has raised alarm among European allies, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling an urgent meeting of European military chiefs in Paris next week. In a televised address, Macron warned that Europe must prepare to defend itself independently of Washington.
"I want to believe the US will stay at our side, but we must be ready if that is not the case," Macron said, urging increased European defence spending. He also revealed that France, along with Ukraine and other partners, had prepared a peace proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
The suspension of intelligence sharing comes at a crucial juncture for Ukraine, which has relied heavily on US support since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Intelligence provided by Washington has helped Kyiv anticipate Russian movements and target enemy positions.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe, speaking to Fox Business, indicated that the pause was directly linked to Trump’s frustration over Ukraine’s commitment to peace negotiations.
"President Trump had a real question about whether President Zelensky was committed to the peace process, and he said, 'Let's pause, I want to give you a chance to think about that,'" Ratcliffe said.
The pressure appears to have yielded results, with Trump revealing on Tuesday that Zelensky had sent him a letter agreeing to negotiations.
“I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause will go away,” Ratcliffe said, adding that the US and Ukraine would "work shoulder to shoulder" once the talks were formalised.
However, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters that the intelligence cut-off was comprehensive, affecting battlefield targeting data that Ukraine uses to counter Russian missile and artillery strikes. Another source suggested the suspension was only partial but declined to elaborate.
The move is the latest indication of a shift in Trump’s foreign policy stance, which has unsettled NATO allies. Since returning to office, he has sought a more conciliatory approach towards Moscow, ending the diplomatic isolation of Russian President Vladimir Putin through direct engagements between US and Russian officials.
The pause in US support has left European countries scrambling to reassess their own commitments to Ukraine. British and French officials have expressed concerns that any prolonged US disengagement could embolden Russia to intensify its offensive.
Mick Mulroy, a former US deputy assistant secretary of defence, warned that cutting off intelligence would have "an immediate impact" on Ukraine’s defence capabilities.
"There is no way to replace the capabilities that the US intelligence can provide from our European allies," Mulroy told the BBC.
Meanwhile, Trump has sought to link future US assistance to economic deals with Ukraine. Addressing Congress on Tuesday, he said Kyiv had agreed to sign an agreement allowing American firms access to its critical mineral reserves.
"It’s time to end this senseless war. If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides," Trump said.
European officials have expressed unease over Trump’s approach, particularly his decision to exclude Ukraine and European leaders from back-channel talks between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
The intelligence suspension is expected to have immediate consequences on the battlefield. Mykola Bielieskov, a researcher at Ukraine’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, noted that Ukraine's ability to detect and respond to Russian missile threats would be severely weakened.
“We will have less time to react, more destruction, potentially more casualties. It will all weaken us very, very much,” he said.
While Waltz suggested that intelligence sharing and military aid could be restored soon, he made it clear that this depended on progress in negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
"I think if we can nail down these negotiations and move towards confidence-building measures, then the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause," he told Fox News.
