Ukraine cannot rely solely on US aid – Pentagon

The Pentagon's top policy official, Elbridge Colby, said that future military support for Ukraine cannot depend on the United States Department of Defense alone, increasing pressure on European allies to take on a larger role.

According to Politico, as reported by Ukrinform, Colby made the remarks during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group held this week in Berlin.

He noted that Washington's support has largely relied on "drawing down finite U.S. stockpiles," and suggested that this approach is no longer sustainable.

"Europe must accelerate its assumption of primary responsibility for the conventional defense of the continent. This is not a matter of choice, but of strategic necessity," Colby said.

He added that further assistance to Kyiv "must not rely on significant U.S. contributions," urging allies instead to increase funding and production.

"Europe must put the defense of the continent and, by extension, its military support for Ukraine on a truly sustainable footing," he emphasized.

According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy's Kiel Support Tracker, U.S. military aid to Ukraine dropped by 99% in 2025. At the same time, Europe sharply increased its support: financial and humanitarian aid rose by 59%, and military aid by 67% compared to the average for 2022–2024. As a result, total aid in 2025 remained close to previous years' levels.

This comes as European allies announced a new wave of support for Ukraine during the Berlin meeting, focusing on drones, air defense systems, and long-range strike capabilities.

As previously reported, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that reducing U.S. support for Ukraine is one of the key achievements of the administration of Donald Trump.