Plugging the gap: How Europe can keep Ukraine supplied with the means to defend itself

PLUGGING THE GAP How Europe can keep Ukraine supplied with the means to defend itself by Luigi Scazzieri Senior Policy Analyst, EUISS Donald Trump’s election as US President has led to a flurry of diplomacy over Russia’s war on Ukraine. The outcome remains unclear: there may be a settlement, continued fighting, or a brief ceasefire followed by a resumption of hostilities. What is clear, however, is that Ukraine will need military support for the long haul, to defend itself against ongoing Russian attacks or deter a new round of fighting. At the same time, the Trump administration is highly unlikely to fund additional US military support to Ukraine. Adjusting to this new reality will be hard for Europe. But Europeans can use a range of mutually reinforcing strategies to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position. THE COST OF US DISENGAGEMENT In financial terms, the US has allocated almost €65 billion in military support since 2022, while the EU has provided over €51 billion, with the UK and Norway providing an additional €12 billion (1). Estimates based © European Union Institute for Security Studies, 2025. The views expressed in this publication are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. BRIEF / 14 Jun 2025 Summary › Europeans need to adapt to a new strategic reality where the US provides minimal assistance to Ukraine – or potentially none. This will not be easy given Kyiv’s reliance on Washington for...