Breaking: CIA Director Says U.S. Paused Intelligence Sharing with Ukraine

The U.S. has paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine alongside military aid to pressure its government into cooperating with the Trump administration’s negotiations to end the war against Russia.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe appeared on Fox Business Wednesday and said the Trump administration would likely resume sharing intelligence with Ukraine after Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky’s Tuesday statement expressing openness to peace talks.

“President Zelensky put out a statement that said, ‘I am ready for peace and I want President Donald Trump's leadership to bring about that peace,'” Ratcliffe said.

“And so I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen, I think will go away, and I think we'll work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine as we have, to push back on the aggression that's there.”

National Security Advisor Mike Waltz discussed Ukraine on Fox and Friends Wednesday morning and said he spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart about setting up peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

“If we can nail down these negotiations and move towards these negotiations and put confidence building measures on the table, the President will take a hard look at lifting this pause,” Waltz said when asked about the intelligence pause.

“We have to know that both sides are sincerely negotiating towards a partial then permanent peace.”

President Trump halted military aid to Ukraine earlier this week following his intense dispute with Zelensky in the Oval Office Friday over the peace negotiations and American support for Ukraine’s war effort. Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of disrespecting the U.S. and lacking gratitude for American military aid. The dispute led to the Trump administration’s minerals deal with Ukraine not being signed after extensive negotiations.

Zelensky addressed the blowup in a statement Tuesday, calling it “regrettable” and emphasizing Ukraine’s support for peace rather than endless war.

“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive,” Zelensky said.

“None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”

The U.S. suspending intelligence sharing played a significant role in Zelensky’s decision to put out the statement, Axios reported, citing a source close to the Ukrainian government. The loss of intelligence capabilities would likely have a significant impact on Ukraine’s military operations as the war rages on.

President Trump welcomed Zelensky’s changed tone during his address to Congress Tuesday night and thanked Zelensky for sending him a conciliatory letter.

“It's time to end the senseless war. If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides,” Trump said. Trump also indicated that the U.S. had “serious discussions with Russia” about finding peace, without going into detail.