The European Union consists of dozens of member states—and although there is a broad alignment in pro-Ukraine sentiment, decisions to aid Kyiv are bound to be rife with national considerations.
Can Europe lift the financial and military aid requirement for Ukraine to stay in the fight and defend its territory against the Russian invasion?
This is perhaps one of the biggest questions around the war in Ukraine. In plain numbers, it appears possible: Europe’s combined economy is larger than that of the United States, and there is political will in most European Union nations to ramp up support for Kyiv. However, there are further questions that must be answered—and one major problem.
Funding Ukraine Isn’t Enough—Kyiv Needs Arms, Too
After the 2024 election and the return of Donald Trump to the White House, the United States has adjusted its position vis-à-vis the Ukraine conflict. With a goal of ending the largest conflict on European soil since World War Two, the Trump administration has been pushing Ukraine and Russia to reach a negotiated settlement and end the conflict. To achieve its objective, the administration has highlighted its leverage, including security aid to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia and third parties that support the Kremlin.
The Ukrainian military relies on security aid to fight, and freezing or stopping military aid altogether could be catastrophic to the Ukrainian defensive effort. Even before Moscow launched the large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the U.S. was providing key military aid to Ukraine. The moment Russian tanks crossed sovereign Ukrainian territory in the early morning hours of that cold winter morning, the U.S. unleashed a deluge of security assistance to Ukraine, flooding Kyiv with American weapon systems and munitions. A little over three years later, the U.S. has committed approximately $66.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine—out of around $69.2 billion since the initial Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014.
But can Europe fund the Ukrainian military on its own?
Europe Isn’t Always United on Ukraine Aid
Ukraine’s European partners have also contributed large amounts of money and weapons systems. Countries like the United Kingdom, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, among other nations, have been funneling weapon systems and munitions to Ukraine. Although U.S. security assistance dwarfs that of other countries, the combined European military aid—and often initiative—has been key in enabling the Ukrainian forces to resist.
According to the European Union, the EU has in total committed approximately $51 billion in security aid to Ukraine. Of course, this does not paint the complete picture: the United Kingdom is not a member of the EU, but is one of Ukraine’s largest supporters and has committed approximately $13 billion in military aid to Kyiv.
European nations continue to commit funds to Ukraine individually. Recently, French President Emannuel Macron publicly pledged another $2.1 billion in military aid to Ukraine. The Netherlands also committed around $550 million, while Sweden announced its largest military aid package to Ukraine, worth over $1.5 billion.
But the European Union consists of dozens of member states—and although there is a broad alignment in pro-Ukraine sentiment, decisions to aid Kyiv are bound to be rife with national considerations. So, though Europe is currently stepping up and providing key military aid to Ukraine, the ability to maintain that aid consistently for a long period of time is uncertain.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing inspecial operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured inBusiness Insider,Sandboxx, andSOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / DexonDee.