17 Oct 2026
Washington Cuts Military Aid to Kyiv – Shift Toward Diplomacy
At
a hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on June 10, 2025, U.S.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed plans to reduce military aid to
Ukraine under the new defense budget.
According
to him, Ukraine has made progress in its defense efforts, but the U.S. is now
considering a new strategy focused not on endless military support but on
pursuing a diplomatic resolution:
"We believe that a negotiated peaceful settlement serves the interests of both sides and our own nation".
Hegseth
noted that Ukraine has advanced in the use of drones, delivering successful
strikes on Russian airbases, and that the U.S. is closely studying these
tactics to strengthen its own defense.
Although
the U.S. has already provided over $66 billion to Ukraine since the start of
the full-scale invasion, he confirmed that the new budget includes a reduction
in that support. Hegseth insists the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine, but
the focus is shifting — from direct funding to reinforcing America's self-defense
and self-sufficiency.
He
had earlier urged NATO allies to increase their own crisis-readiness and raise
security spending to 5% of GDP. This aligns with Washington's broader goal of
easing the American financial burden.
Members
of Congress raised questions about such changes, especially in light of other
major proposed expenditures, such as military parade programs and the Air Force
One upgrade.
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