Since the Trump administration took office, US aid to Ukraine has come to a standstill, while Europe has consistently maintained its support, widening the gap in total allocations: The European continent has now allocated EUR 23 billion more than the United States. This is shown in the latest update of the Ukraine Support Tracker, which covers aids until February 2025. Smaller countries like Estonia and Denmark contribute disproportionately relative to their economic size—while larger economies such as Germany, France, and Spain are being called upon to play a more significant role.
US aid has stalled since Donald Trump assumed office on January 20, 2025. No new military, financial, or humanitarian aid is observed since the United States announced its last aid package—still under the Biden administration, on January 9: EUR 480 million (USD 500 million) in military aid, including air-defense and air-to-surface missiles, as well as equipment for F-16 fighter jets. The last time US support paused for such a long stretch was in January 2024 during a congressional deadlock over a new Ukraine aid package.
“The recent pause in US aid raises the pressure on European governments to do more, both in financial and military assistance,” says Taro Nishikawa, project lead of the Ukraine Support Tracker at the Kiel Institute.
While Washington stalled its aid, Europe continued to announce new aid packages: In January and February the UK allocated EUR 360 million, Germany EUR 450 million, Norway EUR 610 million, Denmark EUR 690 million, and, most notably, Sweden EUR 1.1 billion. On top of it, the European Commission has newly disbursed to Ukraine the first loan of EUR 3 billion. As a result, Europe has now allocated a total of EUR 138 billion in aid since the start of the war—EUR 23 billion more than the United States. Yet, in the area of military support, the US still leads, albeit by a small margin: Since February 2022, the US has allocated around EUR 65 billion in military aid to Ukraine, roughly EUR 1 billion more than Europe.
The new data underscore the large heterogeneity across Europe. Many Western European countries provide only limited aid, at least when compared to the Nordic and Baltics. Countries such as Estonia or Denmark have allocated more than 2 percent of their pre-war GDP to Ukraine, compared to about 0.4–0.5 percent for Germany and the UK, and only 0.1–0.2 percent by France, Italy, or Spain.
In recent report “Ukraine Aid: How Europe Can Replace US Support”, the authors show that it is mostly the large European countries—the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain who would need to increase their support in order to partially or fully replace US aid. “If the ‘big five’ European countries would do nearly as much as the Nordic or Baltic countries, Europe could largely compensate for any US shortfall, especially when it comes to financial aid,” says Christoph Trebesch, head of the Ukraine Support Tracker at the Kiel Institute.
The E.U.’s multifaceted aid package reflects a strategic effort to sustain Ukraine’s economy, military, and displaced population while countering Russian aggression. According to the European External Action Service (EEAS), as of April 9, 2025, the E.U. and its 27 member states have provided close to $155 billion in assistance, encompassing financial grants, loans, military equipment, and refugee support. Of this, 65% has been delivered as grants or in-kind support, with the remaining 35% as highly concessional loans designed to minimize Ukraine’s debt burden.
A cornerstone of this support is the Ukraine Facility, a dedicated instrument launched in 2024 to provide up to €50 billion ($54 billion) through 2027 for recovery, reconstruction, and modernization. The European Commission reported that €27.3 billion of this fund has already been mobilized to stabilize Ukraine’s budget and rebuild critical infrastructure devastated by the war. In April 2025 alone, the E.U. disbursed €3.5 billion under the facility, including €3.1 billion in low-interest loans and €400 million in grants, to cover essential expenses like wages, pensions, and public services.
“The E.U. remains united and resolute in its support for Ukraine for as long as it takes,” said Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, in a statement accompanying the latest disbursement. The funds, she emphasized, aim to ensure “Ukraine’s success on the battlefield and its path toward a European future.”
Military assistance has also surged, with the E.U. emerging as a key supplier of lethal and non-lethal aid. The European Peace Facility (EPF) has allocated €11.1 billion for military support, including €5.4 billion for a Ukraine Assistance Fund established in March 2024. This fund has facilitated the delivery of artillery ammunition, training for over 73,000 Ukrainian troops, and humanitarian de-mining efforts in liberated territories. Additionally, the E.U. has committed €535 million to enhance its defense industry’s capacity to produce ammunition for Ukraine.
Humanitarian aid remains a priority as the war continues to displace millions. The European Commission has mobilized nearly €950 million since 2022 to assist Ukraine’s 3.5 million internally displaced people and the 4.4 million refugees hosted across E.U. member states. In January 2025, an additional €148 million was allocated to provide winterized shelters, food, and healthcare in Ukraine and neighboring Moldova. The E.U. Civil Protection Mechanism has coordinated the delivery of over 153,000 tonnes of aid, including medical supplies and energy equipment, through logistical hubs in Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
The E.U.’s financial contributions also leverage innovative mechanisms. In October 2024, the E.U. joined G7 partners to provide $50 billion in loans financed by profits from immobilized Russian sovereign assets. The first €3 billion from this initiative was transferred to Ukraine in early 2025, with further disbursements planned to support military and budgetary needs.
Analysts note that the E.U.’s escalating support reflects both moral and strategic imperatives. “Europe understands that Ukraine’s fight is also about European security,” said Marie Dumoulin, director of the Wider
Europe program at the European Council on Foreign Relations. “The scale of aid underscores a recognition that a stable Ukraine is integral to the continent’s future.”
Yet challenges persist. Some member states, grappling with domestic economic pressures, have faced public skepticism about the costs of sustained aid. A February 2025 Eurobarometer survey indicated that while 89% of E.U. citizens support humanitarian assistance, opinions on military aid are more divided, with 60% approving of financing arms supplies. E.U. leaders are navigating these tensions while advocating for continued solidarity.
In Kyiv, Ukrainian officials have expressed gratitude for the E.U.’s commitment. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted that total E.U. aid under the Ukraine Facility has reached €19.6 billion, calling it “a lifeline for macroeconomic stability.” As Ukraine pursues E.U. membership, the bloc’s support is seen as a bridge to deeper integration.
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