Following a sharp deterioration in ties between Kyiv and the White House, CIA director John Ratcliffe has stated that the United States has “paused” information collaboration with Ukraine, reports RTE.
Following a dramatic spat in the Oval Office between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky last week, Ukraine’s key ally suspended vital US military assistance.
In an effort to thwart the Russian invasion, Mr. Ratcliffe revealed that information cooperation had also been halted, reports RTE.
“President Trump had a real question about whether President Zelensky was committed to the peace process,” Mr Ratcliffe told Fox News, reports RTE.
Mr. Ratcliffe stated that the United States will once more “work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine” and that the delay “on the military front and the intelligence front” was only temporary.
As Ukraine attempts to move past the Oval Office squabble, Mr. Trump said Tuesday that Mr. Zelensky informed him that Kyiv was prepared for negotiations with Moscow and the completion of a US minerals agreement, reports RTE.
By stating on social media that their disagreement was “regrettable” and that he want “to make things right,” Mr. Zelensky has attempted to win Mr. Trump back.
Later yesterday, Mr. Trump read aloud from a letter written by Mr. Zelensky during his speech to the US Congress.
“The letter reads, ‘Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians,'” Mr Trump told US lawmakers, reports RTE.
According to officials, Russia carried out nighttime assaults on energy installations in the Odesa area of southern Ukraine, shutting out power to the Black Sea peninsula and killing at least one person.
Even as rhetoric about possible cease-fire negotiations between Russia and the United States intensifies, Russia has increased its use of drones and missiles against Ukraine, reports RTE.
“Critical infrastructure has been damaged and part of Odesa has been left without electricity, water, and heat,” regional officials declared.
Images of firemen fighting fires were published by emergency services, who characterised the damage as “large-scale”.
According to the governor, shrapnel killed a 77-year-old man in a town outside of Odesa City, reports RTE.
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