The American decision to stop delivering Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine came as a surprise to both Ukraine and Europe. Within the EU, there is concern that Washington is increasingly pulling back.
The Ukrainian government is adjusting its military strategy as American weapon deliveries falter. Kyiv is focusing more on boosting domestic weapons production and is seeking both investments and technological support for this purpose.
The Ukrainian government emphasizes that it has complied with all American conditions and has cooperated with US agencies. Ukrainian officials express frustration over the non-arrival of previously promised weapons, despite what they consider full cooperation with American requests.
The European Commission has therefore adjusted its course. EC President Ursula von der Leyen stated in Aarhus that Europe “must step in” as the US partly withdraws. The Commission wants to strengthen the European Peace Facility fund and support Ukrainian defense capacity through targeted subsidies and joint production projects.
During a meeting in Denmark, Ukrainian President Zelensky received support from both Von der Leyen and Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen. Denmark, currently holding the EU presidency, has expressed support for accelerating Ukraine’s EU accession and for additional aid to the country’s arms industry.
At the same time, last week President Trump eased existing sanctions against Russia. This move has increased fears in Ukraine of a geopolitical shift, where the US places less emphasis on supporting Kyiv and puts less pressure on Moscow.
The EU, on the other hand, wants to tighten the sanctions regime against Russia. Von der Leyen is pushing for tougher measures, especially targeting the Russian defense industry. She also advocates for greater control over the export of sensitive technologies via third countries to prevent Russia from circumventing sanctions.
Although the political message of European solidarity with Ukraine is widely proclaimed, the practical details of the promised aid remain unclear. So far, exact amounts or timelines for European support are missing.