US officials say assistance to Ukraine's offensive operations has scaled back, but defensive help continues
US officials say assistance to Ukraine's offensive operations has scaled back, but defensive help continues
The US is still sharing intelligence with Ukraine that can help its troops defend themselves, but has “scaled back” sharing any intelligence that Ukrainian forces could use for offensive targeting of Russian troops, according to two US defense officials.
The US does not want to be seen as actively helping the Ukraine strike Russia, which is also why military aid deliveries were paused earlier this week, the officials said. But the US is also not going to withhold information that could help Ukraine protect itself, the officials said.
Elon Musk’s satellite internet service Starlink, the main satellite system that the Ukrainians rely on to communicate on the battlefield, is still active, the officials said.
Some context: CNN previously reported that the Trump administration ordered a partial halt to the intelligence the US shares with Ukraine to help the country fight Russia.
National security adviser Mike Waltz and CIA Director John Ratcliffe indicated earlier this week that the pause could be short-lived if the president was satisfied that Ukraine was taking steps toward negotiations to end the war.
On Friday, Trump also expressed frustration with Russia for continuing to attack Ukraine while the US is working to broker peace talks between the countries, and he threatened to impose new sanctions if they don’t stop.

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