Trump national security adviser Mike Waltz and CIA Director John Ratcliffe announced this morning that intelligence sharing with Ukraine has been suspended (in addition to military aid). Both insinuated that the plan is to isolate Ukraine temporarily to force President Zelensky to agree to Russia’s terms for a ceasefire.
Ukraine depends on U.S. intelligence, such as locations of military forces picked up by U.S. satellites, to defend against Russia’s invasion. An anonymous source involved in the arrangements told CNN that the administration’s action today “pretty much guarantees a Russian victory without there needing to be a peace deal.”
What this means is American satellites will see Russian bombers carrying missiles taking off, bound for Ukrainian hospitals, power and transport infrastructure, and they will intentionally choose to sit on their hands rather than warn them it’s coming.
Mark Wallace, Writer & Political Consultant at TotalPolitics
Immediate impacts from the total US shutdown of intelligence sharing to Ukraine will be wide-ranging, but Russian air strikes targeting civilian infrastructure will likely become more effective.
In the eyes of Ukraine and other ally countries, the Trump administration has now officially committed to the expansion of the Russian empire, no matter the lives lost or the international alliances ended.
I have observed how critical our intelligence relationship with our Ukrainian partners has been in holding the line against Russia’s relentless and brutal offensive. It has saved the lives of Ukrainian servicemembers and civilians alike. The pause on providing materiel to Ukraine against Putin’s aggression is unconscionable on its own, but the idea that we will now withhold life-saving intelligence from Ukrainians who are fighting and dying is unforgivable.
Rep. Jim Himes, Ranking member of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee
Update – 4:45pm ET: France has just joined Germany in preparing for war with Russia, publicly urging other European nations to join them. Germany raised the alarm days ago on Saturday, March 1, after the Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelensky. Most European nations have a weaker military than Ukraine and would stand no chance defending themselves or Poland, Putin’s next most-likely target, on their own.
French President Emmanuel Macron will begin talks to extend France’s nuclear arsenal to European allies.
Russia has already made the Ukrainian conflict a global conflict. It has mobilized North Korean soldiers and Iranian equipment on our continent, while helping these countries to arm themselves more. Who can believe that Russia will stop at Ukraine?… Remaining a spectator would be madness. It is a question, without further delay, of making decisions for Ukraine, for the security of the French, for the security of Europeans.
Macron
Update – 7:40pm ET: According to updates shared by Russia-Ukraine scholar Michael MacKay, Ukraine reports that Russia launched at least 56 attacks, deployed two missiles, dropped 59 guided bombs, used 939 kamikaze and FPV drones, and shelled Ukrainian defenders and civilians over 3,500 times today.
