Four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Europe has quietly taken over from the U.S. as the main supporter of Ukraine.

Axar.az, citing Axios, reports that in 2025, European governments significantly increased aid: military support rose 67% and financial and humanitarian assistance grew 59%, according to the Kiel Institute’s Ukraine Support Tracker. Meanwhile, U.S. aid largely stopped, with Trump pushing NATO allies to purchase American weapons and fund Ukraine’s defense themselves.

European leaders argue that this new role gives them a stronger voice in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Europe is now bearing the real costs of the war and achieving major impact against Moscow, including 415,000 estimated Russian casualties in 2025.

Although the U.S. still plays a key role in intelligence, sanctions enforcement, and arms sales, its approach under Trump has sidelined Europe in formal peace negotiations. European officials see this as a shift in responsibility and influence, with leaders like Keir Starmer calling Europe a “sleeping giant” finally ready to act strategically.