WASHINGTON has reportedly banned Britain from sharing American intelligence with Ukraine – but it may let the UK take the lead of Nato.
An order has been issued that applies to all UK intelligence agencies and military establishments. This order cancels the “Rel UKR” classification, which previously permitted Britain to share US-derived intelligence with Kyiv.
This decision comes in the wake of Trump’s abrupt move to halt US military assistance, a decision that has raised concerns that Ukraine could deplete its arsenal of weapons in a matter of months.
The directive impacts GCHQ, the intelligence divisions of the Ministry of Defence, and other UK security organizations. This could potentially hinder Ukraine’s military strategies in combatting Russian troops.
UK military intelligence expert Phil Ingram told the Daily Mail: “The United States’s instruction to stop allies sharing US-derived intelligence with Ukraine is what I would expect.
“The US’s intelligence partners, including Britain, have had their authority to pass on intelligence revoked.
“The US will tightly control distribution of its intelligence to Ukraine through agencies based in Kyiv.”
America’s decision to cut intelligence ties came just hours after Trump delivered a blistering speech to Congress, in which he confirmed a “temporary pause” in military aid and blamed Ukraine for failing to secure peace talks with Russia.
The US president insisted that “America must focus on American interests”, warning that the war had become a European responsibility.
Trump’s move stunned Western allies, with officials scrambling to determine the full extent of the freeze.
Reports suggest that US weapons already in transit — worth over £790 million — have been halted.
These include Patriot missile systems, crucial for Ukraine’s air defense, HIMARS rocket launchers and precision-guided munitions, anti-tank weapons and armoured vehicles.
Unsurprisingly, the White House’s move was celebrated in Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “If the US stops or suspends supplies, this will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace.”
Kyiv, meanwhile, says the halt of arms raid to Ukraine will be “painful, but not fatal”.
An unnamed senior Ukrainian official told POLITICO: “First, it is a suspension that leaves hope for its resumption.
“So, this is a measure of coercive diplomacy, not a rupture. Second, it is very painful, but not fatal.
“It will cost Ukraine unnecessary deaths and lost territories, but will not lead to defeat.
“Third, I am convinced that a solution formula will be found with the new administration.”
Another senior Ukrainian official warned the Financial Times: “We have two to three months.
“After that, the position will be very difficult for us.
“It will not be a total collapse, but we will be forced to withdraw from some areas more quickly.”
UK TAKING OVER NATO?
Trump’s speech also signalled a seismic shift in NATO, with the US president considering handing over leadership of the alliance to Britain or France.
Since NATO’s founding in 1949, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe has always been an American general, but Trump is now insisting that Europe take more responsibility for its own security.
His decision to freeze aid has already frustrated NATO allies, with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen warning: “We need the Americans militarily.
“This definitely shouldn’t be a moment where we give in.”
French Prime Minister François Bayrou was even more blunt, saying: “The word ‘suspension’ fools no one…
“It signifies that the aggressed country is being abandoned and that one accepts—or hopes—that its aggressor wins. It is obviously unbearable.”
UK praised for leading Europe amid peace talk chaos
AMID the diplomatic chaos of high-profile clashes between Trump and Zelenskyy, the UK led by Sir Keir Starmer has emerged as a steady hand at the helm of Ukraine peace talks.
British leadership — hailed for its cool, pragmatic approach — has not only reined in unruly theatrics but also united European allies behind a common vision for a lasting peace.
Critics and supporters alike are praising the UK for stepping in decisively, turning a messy transatlantic dispute into a beacon of coordinated diplomacy.
With a firm commitment to security and a willingness to shoulder responsibility, the UK’s intervention is seen as a game-changing moment in efforts to end the conflict.
MENDING TIES
Faced with a looming military crisis, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky extended an olive branch to Trump yesterday, saying he was “ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”
His conciliatory tone marked a sharp shift from last week’s explosive Oval Office meeting, where tensions between the two leaders boiled over.
Trump, furious over Zelensky’s warning that a peace deal remained “very, very far away,” reportedly told aides afterward that he would “not put up with” the Ukrainian leader much longer.
Zelensky, who stopped short of an apology, admitted: “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.”
In a call with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Zelensky thanked him for advising him on how to rebuild relations with Trump.
Diplomatic sources say Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are preparing to travel to Washington with Zelensky as early as next week to present a united peace plan.
