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WASHINGTON — Biden-era assistance to Ukraine is weeks away from running out, and the expected failure of peace talks this week — and the prospect of the US walking away from the conflict — has Kyiv facing an uncertain future.

Officials estimate that the US will have spent through all its congressionally approved funds to support Ukraine with military aid by June — just in time for Russia to launch a summer offensive. But there also remains a chance that Trump will decide to pause those shipments indefinitely.

The question hangs heavy in the air, as even sources with direct knowledge of the US talks with Ukraine in France on Wednesday could not tell The Post whether — and how — aid would be affected should Trump walk away from continued discussions.


  With Biden-era assistance to Ukraine ending in a few weeks, along with peace talks still not improving — and the prospect of the US walking away from the conflict — Kyiv’s future is uncertain. REUTERS With Biden-era assistance to Ukraine ending in a few weeks, along with peace talks still not improving — and the prospect of the US walking away from the conflict — Kyiv’s future is uncertain. REUTERS

Senior administration officials have previously said that aid would not be part of a peace deal with Russia, but that the president could decide on it by himself.

Last month, the US briefly paused aid deliveries and military intelligence sharing to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to come to the negotiating table. The move worked, and Kyiv has since been enthusiastic about Trump’s pursuit of a cease-fire.

After about a week, the US restarted its shipments of aid — previously appropriated by Congress during the Biden administration — that has been critical to stopping Russia from taking more Ukrainian land.

A month later, it’s unclear if that aid will continue, whether or not Kyiv and Moscow agree to a peace deal this week — which does not appear likely after the Kremlin on Tuesday slammed Trump’s push for a swift end to the war, calling his approach “futile.”

Even Russian President Vladimir Putin has “started to question whether Ukraine would be able to receive military aid from its allies in the event of a temporary full ceasefire,” according to a Tuesday report by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War.

The Institute suggested Putin may try to pounce on the military aid shipments in negotiations — should they continue — and “demand the cessation of United States and likely also European weapons supplies to Ukraine as a condition for accepting a full ceasefire.”


  Officials believe the US will have spent all congressionally approved funds to support military aid in Ukraine by June. AFP via Getty Images Officials believe the US will have spent all congressionally approved funds to support military aid in Ukraine by June. AFP via Getty Images

The Institute also warned that stopping Western aid may empower Moscow to take even more Ukrainian territory.

“Any potential future Russian agreement to freeze the front short of Russia’s full control of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson oblasts does not preclude future Russian aggression to achieve Russia’s more extensive territorial demands, especially if the agreement stipulates a moratorium on Ukraine receiving Western military aid,” ISW wrote.

While Trump has used a series of strong, coercive tactics against Ukraine to bring them to the negotiating table, he is poised to surrender his effort to end Russia’s war there without bringing the hammer down on Moscow.

Instead, the administration has led with a charm offensive in its approach to Russia, offering major concessions such as US recognition of Ukraine’s Crimea as Russian territory as well as steep sanctions relief and economic cooperation should the Kremlin agree to end its war.


  Senior administration officials are still uncertain if aid would not be part of a peace deal with Russia. via REUTERS Senior administration officials are still uncertain if aid would not be part of a peace deal with Russia. via REUTERS

That approach did not appear to be working Wednesday, as Moscow continued to resist talks with the US over the peace deal.

Ukraine, meanwhile, objected to the Crimea proposal, with its Zelensky telling reporters on Tuesday that Kyiv “will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea.”

“There’s nothing to talk about here. This is against our Constitution,” he said.

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