Trump's stunning string of Putin-friendly moves
www.axios.com

... President Trump's decision to suspend all military aid to Ukraine is the latest in a string of moves that could have been plucked from Vladimir Putin's personal wishlist.

Why it matters: Trump is also considering sanctions relief for Moscow and hinting at regime change in Kyiv. The Moscow-friendly streak comes as he seeks to foster peace in Ukraine and better relations between nuclear-armed superpowers.

- - - But his treatment of Putin as a partner and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a foe has rung alarm bells for NATO allies and even some fellow Republicans.

Driving the news: A White House official told Axios' Barak Ravid Monday night that Trump is stopping all arms shipments to Ukraine because he's "focused on peace" and Ukraine must "be committed to that goal as well." ...

Zelenskyy met with Democrats -- and Republicans -- before his meeting with Trump
www.snopes.com

... Zelenskyy's meeting with a bipartisan delegation of the U.S. Senate took place before a contentious Oval Office meeting with Trump and others.

Claim:
On Feb. 28, 2025, before a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Democrats who convinced him to reject a deal that would allow the U.S. to exploit minerals in Ukraine in exchange for U.S. support in Ukraine's war with Russia.

Rating:
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About this rating

What's True

Zelenskyy did meet with Democratic U.S. senators ...

What's False

... but that meeting also included at least three Republican senators. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, emphatically rejected claims that the Democrats of the U.S. Senate delegation had dissuaded Zelenskyy from taking the minerals deal. Further, Zelenskyy confirmed to reporters two days after the meeting that his country was ready to accept the deal. ...

Trump's pause on Ukraine aid is like the U.S. switching sides in WWII, expert says
www.nbcnews.com

... The White House says pausing military assistance is part of its drive toward peace; many warn it will only embolden Putin.

President Donald Trump's decision to pause American military aid to Ukraine is handing Russia's Vladimir Putin the upper hand on the battlefield and in geopolitical negotiations, former officials and experts warned Tuesday.

The White House said the defense assistance was being reviewed to make sure it was contributing to the administration's goal of being "focused on peace."

Military analysts say that withholding Ukraine's defensive lifeblood will be "crippling" in a matter of months as it tries to hold back the Russian war machine and defend its cities being bombed nightly. ...