The recent U.S. decision to halt military intelligence support to Ukraine has significantly impacted the ongoing conflict, contributing to a Russian advance along a crucial section of the front and undermining President Volodymyr Zelensky’s negotiating position, according to multiple senior Western and Ukrainian officials and military officers.
In an interview with TIME on Friday in Kyiv, one officer, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of military operations, stated, “As a result of this pause, there are hundreds of dead Ukrainians.” He emphasized that the most pressing issue is morale, as Ukrainian forces find themselves fighting without some of their most advanced weapon systems—not due to Russian offensives but rather American withdrawals. “It’s really causing an advantage for the enemy on the front line,” he added.
The U.S. suspended intelligence sharing shortly after a contentious meeting between Presidents Zelensky and Donald Trump in the Oval Office on February 28. During this meeting, Zelensky expressed doubts about Russia’s commitment to any ceasefire. In response, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance criticized the Ukrainian leader publicly, with Trump stating, “You don’t have the cards. You’re gambling with World War III.” Following this confrontation, the U.S. cut military aid to Ukraine, including intelligence sharing. General Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, suggested that the Ukrainians had “brought it on themselves”.
The consequences of this decision have been particularly severe in the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces are struggling to maintain control over territory gained during a surprise offensive last August. President Zelensky views this region as vital leverage for any future peace negotiations with Russia, aiming to exchange parts of Kursk for Russian-held territories. “We will swap one territory for another,” he told the Guardian last month.
However, since the U.S. halted intelligence sharing, Russian forces have made rapid gains in Kursk, threatening to sever Ukrainian supply lines in the area. Military officers and updated battlefield maps from Deep State, an open-source intelligence organization, indicate that “if we do nothing, there will be huge consequences,” according to co-founder Roman Pogorily. He added that the main supply line for Ukrainian troops in Kursk is now “under constant attack,” making normal movement virtually impossible.
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