Suspending Military Aid to Ukraine Does Not Benefit American National Interests

It makes us look weak, both in Europe and Asia.

Last week, it was reported that the Trump administration was suspending military aid to Ukraine. Some stories suggested that the Department of Defense took this decision without consulting the State Department or the White House, giving hope that the policy could be reversed. I certainly hope so, because cutting off military assistance to Ukraine, aid already approved by the U.S. Congress, serves no U.S. national security interest. On the contrary, such decisions damage American interests not only in Europe but also around the world.

Russian Drone Attack on Kyiv, Ukraine, 4 July 2025. Photo by State Emergency Service of Ukraine via WikiCommons.

Ending military assistance to Ukraine now, especially military aid that has already been appropriated, damages America’s reputation as a reliable partner. Of course, that damage is done most immediately and deeply inside Ukraine. After Trump was reelected, there was some genuine hope among Ukrainians, whom I know, that the new president might be good for Ukraine. After all, on the campaign trail, he talked frequently about his desire to end the war in 24 hours. He said it would be easy. Trump overestimated his influence over Putin. His initial strategy for ending the war —concession to Russia, pressure on Ukraine—has not worked. Trump’s frustration has occasionally compelled him to criticize Putin—something he never did during his first term. That, too, has fueled optimism in Kyiv that Trump might finally realize that he needs to have a Plan B to end the war—more weapons and more sanctions. Last week’s decision killed that hope. Unless that decision is reversed, Ukrainians will have entered a new phase in the fight for freedom and independence in which the United States will no longer be on their side. The “leader of the free world” is retiring.

That retirement has implications for American security well beyond Ukraine. Our European allies are increasingly worried about Trump’s commitment to defending them if Putin should attack a NATO ally. Trump did not help matters when he said there were multiple definitions to Article Five – the section of the NATO treaty that says an attack on one is an attack on all. Trump and other NATO leaders managed to have a drama-free NATO summit, during which the issue of America’s commitment to the alliance was clarified, at least for a while. But looking weak on Ukraine makes America look weak more generally in Europe. That invites Putin to test us. That’s the opposite of peace through strength.

Looking weak in Europe makes America look weak in Asia. Don’t believe me. Take a trip to Taiwan as I did a few months ago. (Read my piece on that trip here.) In public, of course, Taiwanese leaders speak confidently about the ironclad relationship with the United States. Privately, they worry about Trump’s commitment to defend their island against an invasion from the People’s Republic of China. If Trump is not even willing to give weapons to Ukraine, then will he give the order to send Americans into battle to fight the largest armed forces in the world to defend the independence of a territory that the United States does not even recognize as an independent country? Trump's fecklessness in Europe fuels doubt in Taiwan. I hope it doesn’t fuel confidence in Beijing. I fear it might.

Trump can reverse this decision and restore American credibility. He can do so without damage to American readiness. And remember when Trump uses Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to send Ukrainians weapons from American military stockpiles, we send to Kyiv older weapons and replace them with newer models and systems. That enhances American readiness. The other mechanism for providing weapons to Ukraine—the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI)— does so without reducing stockpiles, but instead sends funds directly to U.S. defense companies. And at a minimum, Trump should greenlight the direct purchase of American weapons by Ukraine, as Kyiv has asked to do.

Since Trump returned to the White House, as the Institute of the Study of War has documented, Putin has dramatically increased the scale of drone and missile attacks against Ukraine, including daily attacks on Ukrainian civilians.

Source: Institute for the Study of War, July 4, 2025.

Putin has shown no interest whatsoever in entering into a serious dialogue with Trump or his administration about ending the war. Putin is taunting Trump. He is making him look weak, incapable of delivering on his promise to end the war. Now, therefore, is the moment for Trump to reverse course. He must finally realize that Putin will only stop fighting when his army can no longer advance, when a stalemate is reached on the battlefield. And that will occur more rapidly if the United States provides more weapons. More and better sanctions against Russia would also be beneficial. (For ideas, read Action Plan 4.0: Strengthening Sanctions Against the Russian Federation, Working Group Paper #22, May 6, 2025) Cutting off military assistance only emboldens Putin. And emboldening Putin will encourage other American adversaries. It’s that simple.