The United States is withdrawing much of its military support from Eastern Europe, a move widely seen as pressure on European allies to increase their defense spending in the Russia-Ukraine war, the Financial Times reported.

A Lithuanian Defense Ministry official said on Friday that the US Department of Defense informed European countries last week that military support under a program known as Section 333 will be cut to zero from the next fiscal year. 

According to the White House, the decision reflects Washington’s confidence in Europe’s recent efforts to strengthen its military capabilities.

Officials said the step is intended to encourage Europe to assume “more responsibility for its own defense.”

European countries have sharply increased military spending since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. The United States has long urged NATO members to meet or exceed defense spending targets, and officials say this adjustment in US military aid is part of that broader push.

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European leaders voice concerns over US move

Despite Washington’s reassurances, European Union officials expressed concern that the US decision could be perceived by Moscow as a sign of weakness. Some worry that such a perception might embolden Russia while undermining European unity in support of Ukraine.

The Lithuanian Defense Ministry's Director of Policy, Vaidotas Urbelis, told reporters on September 5, “Officially, last week the US Defense Department informed countries that from the next financial year this budget line would be reduced to zero for all European states.”

“There is no formal letter on paper. These are conversations, certain pieces of information and statements, but we see the overall picture. [...] Next year’s budget has not even been adopted. That means the actual sums will only be clear once both chambers pass it and the US president signs it, so we still have to wait a couple of months," Urbelis added.

The reduction of US military support comes as the war in Ukraine enters its third year, with Russia showing no signs of winding down. Analysts warn that scaling back American involvement could shift the balance of deterrence in Eastern Europe at a critical time.

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Macron's promise of EU post-Ukraine war support

At a summit on Thursday, September 4, French President Emmanuel Macron said that 26 European countries “are ready” to take part in a postwar peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, highlighting Europe’s growing willingness to play a more active role in regional security.

“The day the conflict stops, the security guarantees will be deployed," Macron told reporters. 

Following the summit, Macron stated, “We have today 26 countries who have formally committed, some others have not yet taken a position, to deploy a ‘reassurance force’ troops in Ukraine, or be present on the ground, in the sea or in the air.”

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