Overview
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators Thursday that U.S. policy is for European countries to fund most assistance to Ukraine.
- Senator Angus King said the White House’s 2027 defense budget contains no U.S. military aid for Kyiv, citing the proposal during the hearing.
- King displayed a chart showing U.S. military support shrinking as Europe’s share grew, which Hegseth called the desired outcome.
- Hegseth argued European nations are wealthy and closer to the threat and pointed to the PERL/PURL initiative and U.S. European Command as channels to carry the load.
- Crooks and Liars criticized the stance as the U.S. “tapping out,” while King warned the United States has stepped back from Ukraine.