The United States has stopped sharing satellite imagery with Ukraine, a Pentagon agency confirmed to New York Times on Friday.
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) said the suspension was temporary, but it comes at a critical time for Ukraine, which relies on these images to monitor Russian troop movements and assess battlefield damage.
Maxar Technologies, a US-based company that supplies satellite images to Ukraine through a Pentagon program, confirmed that the image-sharing had been suspended. The company stated that it follows “contractual commitments” with clients, including the US government.
This decision follows a series of measures taken by the Trump administration to push Ukraine into peace negotiations with Russia. Alongside halting satellite imagery, the US has also cut military aid and stopped intelligence-sharing with Kyiv. The shift in American policy could change the course of the war, as Ukraine faces ongoing Russian attacks and infrastructure strikes.
The feud with Ukraine president Zelenskyy reached its peak on February 28, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy in the Oval Office before dismissing him without finalising a critical minerals deal.
Despite these actions, Trump maintained that he was considering new economic measures against Russia. “I’m strongly considering imposing new sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and permanent peace deal is reached,” he said on Friday. His statement came just hours after Russian forces launched heavy missile strikes on key Ukrainian infrastructure.
However, just hours later, he stated that working with Russia was “easier” than dealing with Ukraine in his efforts to end the war. “Honestly, I’m finding it more difficult to deal with Ukraine, and they don’t have the cards. It may be easier dealing with Russia,” he said.