Senior Official States US Intel Sharing with Ukraine 'Has Never Been Shut Off'
Washington had announced the suspension of cooperation due to a disagreement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Zelensky last month.. source:TROIB RTS
TroibNews 
Washington had previously announced a suspension of cooperation stemming from a dispute between Donald Trump and Vladimir Zelensky last month.
However, the US “never suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine for anything defensive” that Kiev might need, according to President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff. This statement contrasts with earlier comments from CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who indicated a “pause” in intelligence sharing.
In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Witkoff stated that to his “best understanding,” the US “never shut off intelligence... for anything defensive that the Ukrainians need.” He noted that intelligence sharing would “be on the discussion list” during a meeting between US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Ukrainian representatives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.
When asked about US weapon deliveries, Witkoff provided less definitive information.
“I think that aid was shut off for a bit of time. I’m really not sure where we are,” he responded, deferring the question to Waltz.
On Sunday, while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked if he would consider ending the alleged intelligence pause. He replied: “We just about have. I mean, we really just about have.”
Several media outlets, including The Washington Post and ABC News, reported on Friday a statement from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency which indicated a suspension of Ukraine’s access to US-funded satellite imagery as per Trump’s “directive on support to Ukraine.” Maxar, a leading US provider of satellite imagery, also confirmed that Ukrainian accounts in the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery program had been temporarily suspended.
According to Time magazine, which cited Western and Ukrainian officials, the interruption in intelligence sharing had a significant negative impact on Ukraine’s military capabilities, resulting in substantial casualties and territorial losses, particularly in the occupied regions of Russia’s Kursk Region. An unnamed source stated that Washington’s actions had led to “hundreds of dead Ukrainians.”
Trump’s decision to halt military aid and intelligence sharing followed a public confrontation with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky at the White House in late February, during which Trump criticized Zelensky for his perceived lack of gratitude towards the US and accused him of not pursuing a peaceful resolution with Moscow.
When asked on Tuesday about the apparent freeze in US intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed cautious optimism, suggesting that should the US suspend aid entirely, it would “probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace.”
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
However, the US “never suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine for anything defensive” that Kiev might need, according to President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff. This statement contrasts with earlier comments from CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who indicated a “pause” in intelligence sharing.
In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Witkoff stated that to his “best understanding,” the US “never shut off intelligence... for anything defensive that the Ukrainians need.” He noted that intelligence sharing would “be on the discussion list” during a meeting between US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Ukrainian representatives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.
When asked about US weapon deliveries, Witkoff provided less definitive information.
“I think that aid was shut off for a bit of time. I’m really not sure where we are,” he responded, deferring the question to Waltz.
On Sunday, while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked if he would consider ending the alleged intelligence pause. He replied: “We just about have. I mean, we really just about have.”
Several media outlets, including The Washington Post and ABC News, reported on Friday a statement from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency which indicated a suspension of Ukraine’s access to US-funded satellite imagery as per Trump’s “directive on support to Ukraine.” Maxar, a leading US provider of satellite imagery, also confirmed that Ukrainian accounts in the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery program had been temporarily suspended.
According to Time magazine, which cited Western and Ukrainian officials, the interruption in intelligence sharing had a significant negative impact on Ukraine’s military capabilities, resulting in substantial casualties and territorial losses, particularly in the occupied regions of Russia’s Kursk Region. An unnamed source stated that Washington’s actions had led to “hundreds of dead Ukrainians.”
Trump’s decision to halt military aid and intelligence sharing followed a public confrontation with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky at the White House in late February, during which Trump criticized Zelensky for his perceived lack of gratitude towards the US and accused him of not pursuing a peaceful resolution with Moscow.
When asked on Tuesday about the apparent freeze in US intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed cautious optimism, suggesting that should the US suspend aid entirely, it would “probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace.”
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
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