**US to Reduce Military Aid to Ukraine, Secretary Hegseth Says**
The United States will cut funding for military assistance to Ukraine in its upcoming defense budget, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on June 10. This move comes as Ukraine faces intense Russian attacks, including record-breaking drone strikes against Kyiv.
Speaking at a congressional hearing in the US House of Representatives, Hegseth said that the reduction is part of a broader shift in the administration’s view of the conflict. “We believe that a negotiated peaceful settlement is in the best interest of both parties and our nation’s interests,” he explained.
The Pentagon has yet to release the full details of its 2026 budget, but Hegseth emphasized that it prioritizes military readiness and puts American warfighters first. However, he did not provide specifics on the extent of the funding cuts to Ukraine.
**Escalating Conflict in Ukraine**
This announcement follows weeks of intense Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, including record-breaking drone strikes against Kyiv. Amid this escalating violence, President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the US to support Ukraine with critical air defense systems. Ukraine has even offered to buy these systems outright rather than requesting military aid.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the US has provided over $66 billion in defense support. However, under President Donald Trump‘s leadership, Washington’s policy towards Ukraine shifted dramatically. Calls for supporting Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty were replaced with demands that Ukraine make a deal with Russia.
**A Shift in US Policy**
After Trump’s infamous clash with Zelensky during an Oval Office meeting in February, the US temporarily suspended all military aid to Ukraine. Hegseth, who ordered this halt, did not attend the recent Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on June 4 – the first such absence by a US defense chief since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Zelensky also confirmed in a recent interview that the US diverted 20,000 anti-drone missiles originally intended for Ukraine to American forces in the Middle East. This move has raised concerns about the US’s commitment to supporting Ukraine during this critical moment.
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