The United States has halted intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed Wednesday, a move that could significantly weaken Kyiv’s ability to target Russian forces.
The suspension of intelligence-sharing, coupled with the pause in military aid, highlights the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to pressuring Ukraine into peace negotiations with Russia.
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he had received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which the Ukrainian leader expressed openness to diplomatic talks aimed at ending the ongoing war with Russia.
“I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that prompted Ukraine’s president to respond will go away,” Ratcliffe told *Fox Business Network*. “I think we’ll work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine as we have to push back on the aggression that’s there, but to put the world in a better place for these peace negotiations to move forward.”
Three sources familiar with the situation confirmed that U.S. intelligence-sharing with Ukraine had been suspended, though the exact scope of the reduction remains unclear. One source indicated that intelligence-sharing had only been “partially” cut but did not provide further details.
Since the war began in 2022, the U.S. has supplied Ukraine with critical battlefield intelligence, including key targeting data for military operations against Russian forces. The sudden suspension raises concerns about Ukraine’s ability to sustain its defensive and offensive strategies.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told reporters Wednesday that the administration is reassessing all aspects of its intelligence cooperation with Ukraine.
“We’ve taken a step back and are reviewing our intelligence relationship,” Waltz said.
He also confirmed that the U.S. is engaged in discussions with Ukraine regarding a minerals agreement and potential peace talks with Russia.
“I think we’re going to see movement in very short order,” Waltz said.
The decision to limit intelligence-sharing comes at a crucial moment in the war, as Ukraine seeks continued U.S. support while navigating diplomatic pressure to negotiate with Moscow.
