U.S. to scale back Ukraine military aid in 2026 defense budget

Summary

• Defense Secretary Hegseth says the U.S. will cut Ukraine aid in favor of peace talks
• Ukraine warns reduced support may embolden Russia amid ongoing attacks
• European allies pledge increased funding to fill potential gap

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced during a congressional hearing on June 10 that the United States will reduce funding for military assistance to Ukraine in its 2026 defense budget, signaling a major policy shift under the Trump administration.

The decision reflects a growing preference in Washington for a negotiated peace settlement rather than continued large-scale support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

While Hegseth did not reveal the exact scale of the cuts, the move follows his controversial decision to suspend aid temporarily in February without White House approval, a move that left both U.S. and allied officials scrambling for answers.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the U.S. has provided more than $66 billion in military aid to Ukraine, including advanced weapons systems like Patriot air defenses and HIMARS.

Ukrainian leaders have expressed deep concern that reduced U.S. support could erode their ability to defend against increasingly intense Russian attacks on cities such as Kyiv.

In a bid to maintain access to U.S. weapons, Ukrainian officials have offered to purchase American systems directly. Meanwhile, Hegseth’s absence from the June 4 Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting has been viewed as a signal of the U.S. pivoting its focus toward countering China in the Indo-Pacific region.

To address the potential shortfall, European allies have stepped up their commitments, with the European Union pledging €3.5 billion and Sweden contributing $1.7 billion in 2025 alone.