BBC Breakfast presenter Sally Nugent interrupted Tuesday’s (March 4) show to announce some “breaking” news to viewers.
Sally and her fellow presenter Jon Kay were back on the iconic red sofa this morning to go through the latest stories from both the UK and around the globe.
However, an unexpected turn came about when Sally announced that US President Donald Trump had put a hold on US military assistance to Ukraine following his recent spat with President Zelenskyy.
“We’re waking up this morning to major developments in the Ukraine crisis. Overnight, President Trump has decided to pause military aid to Ukraine just hours after he criticised President Zelenskyy for saying an end to the war with Russia is very far away,” Sally commenced the coverage.
Jon then chimed in, stressing the significance of the update: “And the reason why this is so important is because the United States has been the biggest source of military aid to Ukraine since Russia launched that full scale invasion three years ago,” before handing over to the BBC’s chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet, reports the Express.
Broadcasting live from Cairo, Egypt, Lyse outlined the gravity of Trump’s decision: “[It’s] very difficult for Ukraine, potentially dangerous for Ukraine. Since the full scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has been the United States which has been the most strategic partner of Ukraine.”
She elaborated: “I was in Ukraine last year when the delivering of aid, 63 billion dollars, was held up, and everyone I spoke to in Ukraine from the person serving coffee to the national security advisors said, ‘We are counting it in the number of lives lost in the frontline.’
“That is how crucial it is. Any delay at all will mean that possibly Russian forces will inch forward, they will literally run out of bullets on the frontline, and more Ukrainians will die, and President Trump knows that. He’s using it as a lever to put pressure on Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his relationship with the Ukrainian leader continues to go from bad to worse.”
Further into the programme, chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman shed light on how the unfolding events affect the UK’s Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.
“I think in Downing Street, they’ve been waking up to this news just like us. But I’ve spoken to some senior government sources this morning, and they’re saying there will be no change in Keir Starmer’s approach as a result of this announcement,” Henry remarked.
“He will continue that double-track approach of trying to put Ukraine in the strongest position, while also working intensively to try to bring Presidents Zelenskyy and Trump back together.”
In addition, President Trump made a significant statement regarding the US economy, confirming his intention to implement 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico. Plans for an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports are also anticipated to take effect.
BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One at 6am