EU Faces Pressure to Boost Ukraine Air Defences Amid US-Ukraine Rift

Donald Trump’s increasingly hostile stance toward Volodymyr Zelenskyy has escalated ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, with the president accusing the Ukrainian leader of violating a self-declared "energy ceasefire" and condemning Ukraine’s criticism of a Washington-Moscow deal. U.S. military support, a cornerstone of Kyiv’s defence, now appears uncertain. In response, Ukraine has appealed to the European Union for more advanced air-defence capabilities.

A panel featuring Peter Zalmayev, Leonid Ragozinin, and Mykola Murskyj examined the likelihood of EU assistance and the broader strategic fallout of deteriorating U.S.-Ukraine ties. The discussion highlighted the EU’s potential role as a new backer in the war against Russia, while also noting the political calculations influencing European leaders. The outcome could reshape the balance of external support for Ukraine as the conflict continues.