Ukraine Allies Meet Without U.S. to Pledge New Military Aid/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Nearly 50 nations met in Brussels to boost military support for Ukraine without U.S. leadership. The Pentagon chief skipped the defense group meeting for the first time since its 2022 founding.
UK and Germany took charge, while allies worry about declining U.S. commitment to Ukraine.
Ukraine Military Aid Meeting: Quick Looks
- Nearly 50 nations met in Brussels to boost support for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was notably absent — the first time since the group was formed in 2022.
- The UK and Germany chaired the session, pledging increased drone production and enhanced defense cooperation.
- U.S. absence fuels concerns among European allies about weakening American support.
- The UK committed to a tenfold increase in drone supply to Ukraine.
- France and others fear diminished U.S. presence may undermine NATO unity and deterrence.
- The Ukraine Defense Contact Group has delivered over $126 billion in military aid since its inception.
- The war in Ukraine continues into its fourth year, with tens of thousands dead and no end in sight.
Ukraine Arms Talks Continue Without U.S. at the Helm
Deep Looks
BRUSSELS — Nearly 50 countries gathered in Brussels on Wednesday to pledge more weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, but for the first time since 2022, the United States was absent from the leadership table.
The meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, established after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, was chaired instead by the United Kingdom and Germany. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not attend, marking a noticeable shift in American engagement. He is expected in Brussels on Thursday for a separate NATO defense ministers meeting.
Washington’s absence from the key meeting highlights a growing shift in its posture toward Ukraine. Since the Trump administration took office in January, the U.S. has not chaired a single meeting of the defense group, sparking concern among European NATO allies.
The group’s founding under former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin symbolized strong U.S. leadership in coordinating aid to Kyiv. Since then, Western allies have collectively supplied more than $126 billion in military aid to Ukraine — with $66.5 billion coming from the U.S. alone.
Ahead of the meeting, the United Kingdom announced it would ramp up drone production tenfold, citing the increasing importance of unmanned systems in the war. British Defense Secretary John Healey emphasized that battlefield lessons are driving innovation, with new-generation drones supporting both Ukraine’s defense and UK national security.
“Drones are reshaping the battlefield,” Healey said, “and we’re committed to making sure Ukraine has the tools it needs to protect civilians and hold the line.”
The ongoing war, now in its fourth year, has claimed the lives of over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to United Nations figures. Tens of thousands of troops on both sides have also been killed or wounded, as Russia’s offensive continues with no clear end in sight.
As the U.S. shifts focus toward countering China in the Indo-Pacific, European leaders are growing increasingly anxious about Washington’s long-term commitment to European security. French President Emmanuel Macron has cautioned that turning away from Ukraine could damage U.S. credibility in future global conflicts, particularly with China over Taiwan.
Concerns are mounting that the U.S. could reduce its troop presence in Europe — a key element of NATO’s deterrence posture — to prioritize its Pacific strategy.
Though the U.S. remains Ukraine’s largest single military donor, analysts and allies alike interpret its lowered profile in the defense group as a sign of waning leadership. European nations are now preparing for the possibility of carrying more of the burden should U.S. engagement continue to fade.
For now, Ukraine’s backers insist they remain united. But as leadership dynamics shift, the path forward in sustaining Kyiv’s defense appears increasingly uncertain — especially as Ukraine braces for another year of attrition on the battlefield.
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