How Unified Is the EU when It Comes to Supporting Kyiv? | DW News
•February 24, 2026
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Why It Matters
EU unity on Ukraine is critical to sustain pressure on Russia and to compensate for waning U.S. support, directly influencing the war’s trajectory and the future security landscape of Europe.
Key Takeaways
- •EU support for Ukraine remains strong despite internal dissent.
- •Trump’s return cuts US aid, shifting burden to Europe.
- •Hungary and Slovakia block new sanctions and loan package.
- •Germany leads EU financial and military assistance to Kyiv.
- •Unity essential for future sanctions, NATO coordination, and EU accession.
Summary
The DW News segment marks the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full‑scale invasion, asking how cohesive the European Union remains in backing Kyiv. With President Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv and the war now in its fifth year, the discussion pivots on whether Europe can sustain the political and financial weight that the United States has begun to shed under Donald Trump’s renewed presidency.
Analysts note that U.S. military and financial assistance has plummeted by roughly 99% since Trump’s return, leaving Europe to shoulder the bulk of Ukraine’s defense budget and weapon procurement. While the EU collectively supplies the majority of arms and funds, internal fractures surfaced when Hungary and Slovakia vetoed a fresh €90 billion loan and a new sanctions package targeting Russia’s banking and energy sectors. Germany has emerged as the primary patron, committing €25 billion annually and maintaining public backing at 67% despite rising far‑right opposition.
Fabri Portier, CEO of Rasmosen Global, warned that disunity plays directly into Moscow’s and Trump’s strategic calculus, urging a unified, proactive negotiating stance and accelerated EU integration for Ukraine. He highlighted that even with diminished U.S. quantitative aid, American intelligence and air‑defence interceptors remain qualitatively vital. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed skepticism about imminent peace talks, emphasizing that Russia’s deteriorating economy may eventually force a diplomatic shift.
The episode underscores that European cohesion is not merely symbolic; it determines the efficacy of sanctions, the speed of military resupply, and the credibility of Ukraine’s eventual EU accession. A fragmented EU risks undermining collective leverage over both Moscow and Washington, potentially prolonging the conflict and reshaping the security architecture of Central and Eastern Europe.
Original Description
It's the fourth anniversary of the day Russian forces surged across Ukraine's border, beginning Moscow's full-scale invasion. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has arrived in Kyiv to mark the moment. Ukrainians observed a minute of silence to remember the thousands of soldiers and civilians who have died in the conflict.
00:00 Four years of full-scale war in Ukraine
04:20 Fabrice Pothier, Rasmussen Global
08:30 Loic Simonet, Austrian Institute for International Affairs
13:55 Bernd Riegert, DW Political Correspondent
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