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At a summit in Budapest, European Union leaders discussed how the EU could increase military aid to Ukraine if Donald Trump possibly limits or ends US support, Bloomberg reports. The summit participants discussed the possibility of increasing funding for Ukraine, given speculation that Trump may shift the financial burden to Europe. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Washington could cut off aid to Kyiv, and Europe would not be able to fully fund the war on its own.
Some EU leaders, such as Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Mihal, have emphasised the importance of supporting Ukraine as a key factor in the future of European security. They are concerned that a possible reduction in US aid may require Europe to increase its own contribution. However, so far, the discussions have not led to concrete changes in military strategy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stressed that Western support was important for Ukraine, and the EU should be prepared for potential changes. However, she added that developments would show how to respond in the coming weeks.
EU military restrictions
The main problem is not only finances, but also military resources, which so far have been mainly provided by the United States. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Europe is facing a shortage of defence resources and personnel, despite increased spending following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Although European NATO countries have increased defence spending since 2014, the 2022 conflict has highlighted numerous weaknesses in European defence.
European officials have suggested that they may wait until Trump’s inauguration in January to understand his position on Ukraine. However, some believe that the delay is unacceptable and are calling on the European Commission to develop a contingency plan now to deal with the reduction of US aid.
Trump’s possible strategies
Trump has now begun consultations with European leaders and, according to sources, he understands that political pressure on Ukraine to make concessions to Putin must be accompanied by concrete proposals from Washington.
