European NATO Concerned About 'Cost' of Trump Shifting Ukraine Responsibility, Reports FT
Officials from European NATO countries are concerned about the financial implications of Donald Trump’s shift in responsibility regarding Ukraine, according to The Financial Times. Read the full article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Bloc members can’t realistically support Kiev without US help, an official has told the newspaper.
Officials in European NATO states are hesitant to take on Ukraine's security responsibilities without US assistance, as reported by The Financial Times on Thursday. This week, the Trump administration signaled a preference for minimal involvement once a potential ceasefire is achieved.
The FT notes that Washington's allies in Europe are concerned they may need to bear the costs of postwar security and reconstruction and feel frustrated by negotiations between Trump and Russia that exclude them.
One source suggested that a scenario in which “the US says, ‘We did the ceasefire, and all of the rest is for you to clean up’” wouldn’t be acceptable to the EU.
Additionally, a diplomat pointed out: “There is a limit to what the EU alone can realistically provide in terms of money, arms, and perhaps boots on the ground.”
Another EU official commented that “the Americans don’t see a role for Europe in the big geopolitical questions related to the war,” stating further: “Trump sees us as money.”
Former US President Joe Biden’s declared policy was to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes,” a view echoed by the EU and various national governments. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth articulated the shift in Washington's stance during a meeting of arms donors in Belgium on Wednesday.
Hegseth described Kiev’s goal of reclaiming territories lost since 2014 as “an unrealistic objective,” labeling it an “illusionary goal” that would lead to increased suffering. He also rejected the idea of NATO membership for Ukraine and emphasized that any peacekeeping mission post-ceasefire should not involve US-led military entities or American forces: “To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be US troops deployed to Ukraine.”
Trump further clarified his position by announcing he had a “lengthy and highly productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Wednesday evening, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK released a joint statement with the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, reaffirming support for the approach taken by the previous US administration. In the statement, Kallas declared Ukrainian territorial integrity “unconditional” and insisted that Western Europe has a “central role” in any negotiations.
Russia has long expressed concerns regarding NATO's eastward expansion since the 1990s, perceiving it as a direct threat to its national security. Moscow regards Ukraine's possible membership in NATO as a “red line” and a crucial factor in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
Officials in European NATO states are hesitant to take on Ukraine's security responsibilities without US assistance, as reported by The Financial Times on Thursday. This week, the Trump administration signaled a preference for minimal involvement once a potential ceasefire is achieved.
The FT notes that Washington's allies in Europe are concerned they may need to bear the costs of postwar security and reconstruction and feel frustrated by negotiations between Trump and Russia that exclude them.
One source suggested that a scenario in which “the US says, ‘We did the ceasefire, and all of the rest is for you to clean up’” wouldn’t be acceptable to the EU.
Additionally, a diplomat pointed out: “There is a limit to what the EU alone can realistically provide in terms of money, arms, and perhaps boots on the ground.”
Another EU official commented that “the Americans don’t see a role for Europe in the big geopolitical questions related to the war,” stating further: “Trump sees us as money.”
Former US President Joe Biden’s declared policy was to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes,” a view echoed by the EU and various national governments. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth articulated the shift in Washington's stance during a meeting of arms donors in Belgium on Wednesday.
Hegseth described Kiev’s goal of reclaiming territories lost since 2014 as “an unrealistic objective,” labeling it an “illusionary goal” that would lead to increased suffering. He also rejected the idea of NATO membership for Ukraine and emphasized that any peacekeeping mission post-ceasefire should not involve US-led military entities or American forces: “To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be US troops deployed to Ukraine.”
Trump further clarified his position by announcing he had a “lengthy and highly productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Wednesday evening, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK released a joint statement with the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, reaffirming support for the approach taken by the previous US administration. In the statement, Kallas declared Ukrainian territorial integrity “unconditional” and insisted that Western Europe has a “central role” in any negotiations.
Russia has long expressed concerns regarding NATO's eastward expansion since the 1990s, perceiving it as a direct threat to its national security. Moscow regards Ukraine's possible membership in NATO as a “red line” and a crucial factor in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
