President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to revoke temporary legal protections for approximately 240,000 Ukrainians.
The revelation, shared with Reuters by a senior Trump official, comes after the president’s very public clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an Oval Office showdown that resulted in the administration pausing military aid for the country and derailed the signing of a rare earth minerals deal, part of the Trump’s wider peace strategy.
The effort was reportedly already in motion before Trump’s public spat with Zelensky, and is part of a sweeping crackdown on Biden-era immigration policies
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, however, told Reuters that there were “no announcements at this time,” while the White House and Ukrainian embassy declined to comment.
A senior Trump official and three sources familiar with the matter said the move is expected as soon as April – potentially putting almost a quarter of a million Ukrainians in the US on a fast-track to deportation.
The announcement comes as European leaders hold crisis talks in Brussels, in which they are expected to discuss – among other issues – the prospect of using France’s nuclear deterrent to protect the continent in the face of threats from Russia.
On Wednesday, the UK announced a £30m missile deal to provide Ukraine with more missiles to target Russian aggression in the Black Sea, the latest deal that shows Britain is providing more support to Kyiv in the wake of weakening US backing.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
