If the U.S. reduces its support for Kyiv, Europe will face the "worst-case scenario" — the necessity to ensure both its own security and Ukraine's resistance independently.
The publication Bloomberg reports that while a significant portion of financial aid to Kyiv comes from Europe, the U.S. remains Ukraine's largest military donor.
"European governments have provided the majority of financial assistance to Kyiv, yet the U.S. continues to be its largest military donor. One of the critical vulnerabilities is the sharing of intelligence from the U.S., which is essential for targeting Ukrainian strikes on Russian assets," the article notes.
According to former U.S. Army General Ben Hodges, the main question is whether Europeans can unite their efforts and produce weapons on a larger scale. The coming year, as predicted by European officials, will be crucial for Ukraine. The strength of Ukraine's position in potential negotiations and the subsequent actions of the new U.S. administration are in focus. If Washington's support for Kyiv weakens, Europe will have to quickly adapt to the new conditions.
Experts suggest that, despite the challenges, a complete withdrawal of U.S. support is unlikely. However, even a partial reduction in American aid would pose a significant challenge for European allies and might compel them to rethink their strategy not only regarding Ukraine but also in a broader security perspective.
Source: bloomberg.