The U.S. has never stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine that is needed for defensive purposes, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, told Fox News on March 10.
The comments seem to confirm earlier claims in the media that the U.S. freeze on intelligence sharing with Kyiv, instituted on March 5, did not extend to information needed for defense operations.
The latest information indicates that restrictions on intelligence that would enable Ukraine to strike Russian targets remain in place. The current level of intelligence exchange between Kyiv and Washington remains unclear, however, as Trump said on March 9 that the U.S. had "just about" lifted the restrictions.
The issue would be discussed at the U.S.-Ukrainian talks in Jeddah on March 11, Witkoff said before departing for Saudi Arabia.
The Trump administration restricted intelligence sharing with Ukraine shortly after freezing all U.S. military assistance flowing to the country, which has faced Russia's all-out war for more than three years.
The steps followed a heated exchange between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House on Feb. 28, which underscored Washington's increasingly cold stance toward Ukraine as the U.S. seeks to restore ties with Russia.
According to Witkoff, the U.S. hopes for significant progress with Ukraine this week, which could include the signing of a natural resources deal that has been on hold since the Oval Office spat.
A Ukrainian delegation, led by Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa, reportedly hopes to convince the U.S. to lift the pause on military and intelligence support.
Kyiv also aims to pitch a plan for a partial ceasefire in the air and sea, the Financial Times reported.
In turn, the U.S. delegation, led by Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, wants to assess whether Ukraine is ready for a "realistic peace," according to Reuters.
Alisa Yurchenko
(Updated: )
