U.S. signals shift in Ukraine funding as Trump-Putin summit looms
By bellecarter // 2025-08-11
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  • The United States has announced it will no longer fund Ukraine's war efforts, with Vice President J.D. Vance stating that America is "done with the funding of the Ukraine war."
  • The decision comes ahead of a critical summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where the Ukraine conflict is expected to be a central topic.
  • Vance emphasized the need for Europe to take a more prominent role in supporting Ukraine financially, urging European leaders to "step up and take a bigger role" in the conflict.
  • European leaders, including U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy, are considering purchasing American weapons for Ukraine, and the European Commission is preparing for an emergency meeting to discuss the U.S. decision.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains firm on not conceding territory to Russia, while the conflict continues with recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian targets, underscoring the ongoing volatility.
The United States has indicated it will no longer fund Ukraine's war efforts, with Vice President J.D. Vance stating on Sunday, Aug. 10, that America is "done with the funding of the Ukraine war." This announcement comes ahead of a highly anticipated summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, where the conflict between Kyiv and Moscow is expected to be a central topic of discussion. Vance's remarks, made during an interview on Fox News, underscore a growing sentiment within the U.S. administration that American taxpayers have grown weary of financing a conflict that seems increasingly distant from their immediate concerns. "Americans, I think, are sick of continuing to send their money, their tax dollars, to this particular conflict," Vance said. "But if the Europeans want to step up and buy the weapons from American producers, we're okay with that. But we're not going to fund it ourselves anymore." (Related: U.S. defense budget cuts Ukraine funding as Trump pushes for negotiated peace with Russia.) The vice president's comments follow a meeting with Western European and Ukrainian officials in London, where he emphasized the need for Europe to take a more prominent role in supporting Ukraine financially. "This is in your neck of the woods, this is in your back door," Vance told Europeans. "You guys have gotta step up and take a bigger role in this thing." European leaders, including U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy, have been urged to consider purchasing American weapons for Ukraine if they wish to continue their support. European Commission President Kaja Kallas confirmed that European foreign ministers are preparing for an emergency meeting to discuss the implications of the U.S. decision and to strategize their next steps. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not invited to the Alaska summit, has firmly rejected any territorial concessions to Russia. "The Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupiers," he proclaimed on the social platform X. His stance has been echoed by European leaders who insist that any peace deal must protect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Trump-Putin summit: A pivotal moment

The upcoming summit in Alaska is seen as a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict, which began in February 2022. While the Trump administration hopes for a breakthrough in peace negotiations, the Kremlin has proposed a ceasefire deal that would grant Russia control over Eastern Ukraine in exchange for a halt in hostilities. This proposal has been met with strong opposition from Zelensky, who insists that any decisions regarding Ukraine's future must include Ukrainian input. Trump has previously vowed to end the conflict within 24 hours, but negotiations have proven challenging. The conflict has already lasted three years and has imposed significant costs on both the United States and Europe. Despite these challenges, Trump has secured agreements with NATO allies to increase their defense spending and to purchase American weapons for Ukraine, demonstrating a commitment to supporting Kiev while also pushing for a resolution. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged the importance of the Alaska summit, stating that European leaders are "intensively preparing" for the meeting and "hope and expect" that Zelensky will be invited. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised the U.S. for its efforts, including allowing more military equipment to flow to Ukraine and imposing secondary sanctions on India for purchasing Russian oil. As the world watches the developments, the U.S. stance on funding Ukraine's war efforts marks a significant turning point. The onus is now on European nations to decide whether they will increase their financial and military support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, the conflict on the ground continues, with Ukrainian forces striking an oil refinery in Russia's Saratov region in an overnight drone attack, highlighting the ongoing volatility of the situation. Watch the video below that talks about the looming Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deadline. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

U.S. withdraws as mediator in Ukraine-Russia war. Trump has deadline in mind for Ukraine peace deal as war drains billions from American taxpayers. Tensions flare as Zelensky ejected from White House after heated exchange with Trump and Vance.

Sources include:

RT.com TheHill.com Independent.co.uk Brighteon.com
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