The top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly thanked President Trump during an exclusive interview with The Post Tuesday for stepping in to reverse a Pentagon decision to pause aid to Kyiv, hailing the US president’s commitment to “peace through strength.”
Andriy Yermak — the equivalent in Ukraine to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles — said the US president’s Monday night announcement was “very well received in Ukraine, especially after very [a] substantial phone conversation” between Trump and Zelensky on Friday.
The Pentagon’s sudden decision to halt shipments to Ukraine surprised Kyiv, particularly because it was out of step with Trump’s sentiments during the call, which Zelensky heralded as one of the best the two leaders have ever held.
During the conversation, Trump “indeed said that he’s fully supportive of continuation of the aid to Ukraine and indeed, he said that he understands the situation,” according to Yermak, who listened in.
“He was quite disturbed by recent strikes — they’ve been happening for more than three years — but by recent strikes, murders with drones and missiles that fall in Ukrainian cities, including the capital of Ukraine,” he added.
“Absolutely, [Trump and Zelensky] are united in this. These two leaders definitely want peace, and they are absolutely against the killing.”
Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting Tuesday he did not know who at the Pentagon made the unilateral decision to stop the flowing assistance previously approved by Congress.
“I don’t know, you tell me,” Trump shot back at a journalist who inquired about the halt.
However, administration officials have told The Post that the move originated, at least in part, with Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, who has a long track record of promoting isolationist policies.
Colby prepared a memo suggesting the freeze to Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, who had the authority to pause the aid shipments, and ultimately did, The Guardian reported on Tuesday.
Colby’s defenders — including ousted ex-Defense Department adviser Dan Caldwell — have claimed that the decision was made by the president before Trump made clear Tuesday that wasn’t the case.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell has said the decision was made following an internal review of the Defense Department’s foreign aid to multiple countries, not just Ukraine.
“We see this as a commonsense, pragmatic step towards having a framework to evaluate what munitions are sent and where,” he told reporters last week. “But we want to be very clear about this last point and let it be known that our military has everything that it needs to conduct any mission anywhere, anytime, all around the world.”
Asked how the pause affected Ukraine’s defense, Yermak said Kyiv is “not here to complain.”
“We’re here to make things happen. Good deals — that’s what matters,” he said. “But let’s be honest: when Russia launches over a hundred Shahed drones] almost every night, along with ballistic and cruise missiles, any delay in deliveries becomes a real concern.”
“It’s not about headlines — it’s about people waking up to explosions. It’s about keeping morale strong.”
Kyiv is now confident that Trump and Zelensky’s relationship will continue to grow, particularly as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to “bulls—” the president, as Trump revealed Tuesday.
“A lot of people are dying and it should end,” the president complained. “We get a lot of bulls— thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
Yermak called the president’s firm words about the Russian leader encouraging.
“We’ve seen President Trump’s recent messaging on Ukraine — and frankly, we’re impressed,” he said. “No exaggeration. The clarity, the leadership, the determination — we truly appreciate it.”
Trump and Zelensky have become increasingly aligned with each phone call and meeting — especially since their breakthrough conversation at the Vatican in April, which Yermak joked may be considered the “first miracle” of the late Pope Francis — whose funeral the two leaders were attending.
“I always knew that the two presidents share a lot in common. They have many of the things that they see the same way — they just need to talk more,” he said. “There was a brilliant meeting in the Vatican, and then several phone calls, and then meeting in The Hague, and so all that is the work to understand each other more deeply.
“And you know, certain events had to unfold, certain conversations had to happen — including conversations with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.”
While Democrats and other critics blasted Trump for re-starting US talks with Putin upon taking office, Yermak said the strategy has been successful — even though the Russian dictator has rebuked the US president’s demands for peace.
The talks have allowed Trump to “draw his own conclusions on who really wants peace and who doesn’t,” the Ukrainian official explained.
“If President Trump hadn’t spoken to Putin, probably we would not have heard the reaction that we have heard recently (from Trump,” he said. “He’s a strong person. He’s a strong leader, and he drew all the conclusions on his own.
“Our work was to be there, to be constructive, open, honest, diligent, just as we are. And that definitely got an answer in his heart, and that can only make us happy.”
Yermak is optimistic that Trump will continue his support for Ukraine, which may soon be seen again with a pending bill that Kyiv believes would deliver the most impactful Russian sanctions package to date.
“Drawing parallels with golf, this is like a hole-in-one,” Yermak said of the bill sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “It’s a drive that does not happen frequently, but it hits the hole.”
The bill would slap 500% tariffs on countries — including China and India — that still import Russian oil, the key source of Moscow’s income.
“We believe that the adoption of this legislation will deprive Russia of around $60 billion by the end of this year,” Yermak said. “… It seems to me that this serves also as a moment to reconsider trade priorities in the world — you know, they are buying these things that help Russia continue the war and kill people.
“Let them (instead) buy American energy resources. That’s a win-win situation.”
Yermak went on say that Trump is the “only leader here, in today’s world, who can influence” Russia to end its 40-month-old war on Ukraine.
“We would be happy if in this war with Russia against Ukraine, President Trump helps us to achieve a just and strong, durable peace,” he said. “His pressure is working, pressure — not only in relation to the military aid, but also, I think, a sanctions pressure.
“Indeed, today, he’s the only leader who can make Putin move not just to this imitation of the negotiations, but real negotiations.”
