US pauses intelligence sharing with Ukraine, says CIA director

​​​​​​​By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US has paused intelligence cooperation with Ukraine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed on Wednesday.

"Trump had a real question about whether President Zelenskyy was committed to the peace process, and he said, 'Let’s pause,’" Ratcliffe told Fox Business Network.

The move follows a clash between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in the Oval Office last Friday.

Ratcliffe expressed hope that the pause will soon be lifted.

"I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause 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, but to put the world in a better place for these peace negotiations to move forward," he said.

Trump on Tuesday, in his first joint address to Congress, said he received a letter from Zelenskyy expressing Kyiv's readiness to come to the negotiating table in pursuit of “lasting peace" and work out a critical minerals deal after the blow-up spat.

A heated exchange occurred between Zelenskyy, Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office on Feb. 28. Zelenskyy expressed doubt that diplomacy could result in peace but Trump and Vance criticized the Ukrainian leader for not being grateful for US support.