Trump administration to end European security programs focused on Russia

The Washington Post ^ | Sep 4, 2025 | Noah Robertson

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The decision, affecting hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. military aid, has alarmed NATO allies and upset U.S. lawmakers who strongly back the alliance.

The Trump administration intends to halt longtime security assistance programs for Europe, including an initiative to fortify the continent’s eastern flank against a potential attack by Russia, as it endeavors to recast Washington’s role within NATO, according to six people familiar with the matter.

The decision would impact hundreds of millions of dollars worth of military aid relied upon by some of the alliance’s most vulnerable members. It has alarmed U.S. allies struggling to comprehend the administration’s policy toward Europe and its chief adversary in the Kremlin after President Donald Trump, eager for a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, rescued its mercurial leader, Vladimir Putin, from diplomatic isolation. U.S. lawmakers, meanwhile, are confused by the move.

“The Russians genuinely only care about American dollars, American troops and the American flag,” said a European official worried what signal a cut in U.S. aid would send to Moscow. Like others, this person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter.

In a statement, the White House said its move to slash security assistance was “coordinated” with the Europeans and is consistent both with Trump’s executive order to reevaluate U.S. foreign aid and his “long-standing emphasis on ensuring Europe takes more responsibility for its own defense.”

“Europe has been stepping up,” the statement says. “ … We are pleased with European allies taking on more defense initiatives.”

A spokesperson for the Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump has vacillated in his approach to Europe amid the long-running Ukraine conflict, exhibiting both frustration and warmth toward Putin while endorsing plans to support Kyiv through American...

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TOPICS: European Union; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; Russia
KEYWORDS: adoorknob; adorko; bloodythirstyzeepers; europe; eurotrash; whatcldgowrong; zeepersdisappointed; zeepershardesthit; zeepershasthesads; zeepersindespair; zeepersinhysterics

[mass55th]

"The decision, affecting hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. military aid, has alarmed NATO allies and upset U.S. lawmakers who strongly back the alliance."

Good. This government, and its alphabet agencies like the CIA have wasted billions in tax payer dollars running these scam programs. Nobody knows where that money actually ends up on the other end. The CIA hands out taxpayer money to anyone. They've been doing it for years.

[adorno]

Putin appreciates the gesture.

Putin will also be submitting Trump’s name for consideration to get the Nobel Peace Prize.

Meanwhile, Putin will increase his military attacks on Ukraine, in order to attain peace, his way. If Putin gets Ukraine and the war ends, he will also be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, maybe even by Trump.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Meanwhile, Putin will increase his military attacks on Ukraine, in order to attain peace, his way.

I notice you sleazily ignore the military attacks by Ukraine deep into Russia.

[adorno]

I notice you sleazily ignore the military attacks by Ukraine deep into Russia.

Not deep enough, and not destructive enough.

But, can you refresh my mind as to who started the war? Should war be waged one-way only? If you get attacked on the street and suffer major bodily damage, will you just let it happen and go your merry way and hope the guy doesn't come back to finish you off?

[rrrod]

Ukraine is defending...

[grumpygresh]

“Putin appreciates the gesture.”

The question is whether or not this was an effective program or not. If it’s a waste of money and more bureaucratic bloat it needs to go.

Wasting money on ineffective programs won’t help stop Putain.

[Freee-dame]

World War II ended 80 years ago. Europe can defend itself now.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

History does not begin on a day of your choosing, Bozo.

[RKV]

“500 million Europeans are begging 300 million Americans for protection from 140 million Russians who have been unable to overcome 50 million Ukrainians for three years.” - former President of Poland, Donald Tusk.

[rrrod]

Nor does it yours CS.

[Mount Athos]

The war was started in 2014 when we overthrew Ukraine’s government, with Victoria nuland bragging about the USA hand picking the successor. When poroshenko sent extremist paramilitary units to terrorize and expels ethnic Russiansthere was no way Russia (or any government in the world) was going to just watch and do nothing.

Then Merkel and hollande openly admitted that there was no sincerity or intentions to uphold the minsk agreements, adding far more fuel to the fire. There’s no way Russia can trust the west after that

[mewzilla]

If the US is no longer paying for it, this war will end very quickly.

[jpl]

We really shouldn't have precipitated this reverse Cuban Missile Crisis right on the doorstep of Moscow and thousand of miles away from us. Intelligent people knew decades ago this was a stupid and dangerous game we were playing and in some cases said so in writing.

The problem with most of our so-called "leaders" in the west is that they're nowhere near as smart as they like to think they are, and they spend little or no time thinking about the possible negative and even dangerous consequences of their actions.

[rrrod]

I saw that speech several times. Never gets old

[chuckee]

Is Western Europe the third world? You do understand that the NATO nations in Europe have 10 times the GDP of Russia and 15% more than the US. They have 4 times the population of Russua and 25% more than the US. And, most importantly, it is on their home field, not ours 5000 miles away with no vital national security interest in it. This is not the USSR. They are just another kleptocracy over there with just another bad guy running it. We rightfully gave up fighting every bad guy on the map unless we had a vital national security interest in 2017.

[Kinzua]

Ukraine needs to capitulate and cede the separatist oblasts. The population of those oblasts would be persecuted by the Ukrainian side. Neither the USA nor the Europeans can afford this and both have near crisis situations on the home fronts. Borders change sometimes and we need to cut our losses.

[Toughluck_freeper]

Yes... yes... buahahahaha
Tighten the screws, apply the pressure until those warmongering euroweenies agree to end the war in Ukraine.

I have become convinced that the biggest impediments to peace are France, the UK and the EU and that now Putin has lost patience and is going to take over the whole of Ukraine.

If Trump applies pressure to the EU perhaps we could have some peace.

No more of the EU’s stupid position of no peace until all lands are returned, no peace until Ukraine is in Nato, no peace until they have security guarantees, no peace until they get the USA involved in the war. To that I say NO!

[packrat35]

So bitch, keep giving us money...

[packrat35]

We don’t care... You beggars can take your tin cup and go elsewhere for your alms!