US, Europe vow to secure Ukraine, as Kyiv asks for $60 billion in 2026

[rangerrebew]

US, Europe vow to secure Ukraine, as Kyiv asks for $60 billion in 2026
By Linus Höller
 Dec 16, 2025, 07:35 AM
 
BERLIN — Ukrainian, European and U.S. negotiators have wrapped up two days of talks here with what officials describe as the most substantial movement yet toward a political framework to end Russia’s full‑scale invasion, even as core territorial questions remain unresolved.

Meanwhile, Ukraine on Tuesday predicted the total costs for its defense at $120 billion for 2026, of which half would have to come from foreign support.


According to Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials, the discussions in Berlin focused on a package of five documents that would underpin an eventual peace deal, several of which are dedicated to long‑term security guarantees for Ukraine. Kyiv says parts of the package are intended to be legally binding, with an “Article 5-like” mutual‑defense commitment, a reference to NATO nomenclature, requiring U.S. congressional approval and backed by additional European pledges.​

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2025/12/16/us-europe-vow-to-secure-ukraine-as-kyiv-asks-for-60-billion-in-2026/

[rangerrebew]

EU, I'm sure, wants the US to pay 59,500,000,000 of it.  Biden would have done it.

[PeteS in CA]

In the real world, while the US may have provided the most weapons, etc. to Ukraine, European nations have provided a lot, from uniforms to shells to weapons systems to tanks to multi-role fighters to cruise missiles. And in the case of more sophisticated weapons system, training.

Ukraine also designs and manufactures some of its own weapons, e.g. the cruise missile that took out the Moskva, the Sea Baby drones used to attack Russian shipping, ports, and the Kerch Strait Bridge, and the underwater drone used a few days ago to hit one (maybe two?) Kilo class submarine in Novorossiysk.

[Free Vulcan]

Unless the focus is on undermining Russia's ability to produce crude, then no dice.

Tired of ridiculously expensive, conventional war stance, cluster FUBAR 'peacekeeping' operations. Nothing but spackle on the cracks of the dam.

[Hoodat]

EU, I'm sure, wants the US to pay 59,500,000,000 of it.  Biden would have done it.

No, he wouldn't.  Biden would say he was giving $60 billion, but would have diverted it elsewhere.

[PeteS in CA]

Unless the focus is on undermining Russia's ability to produce crude, then no dice.

Tired of ridiculously expensive, conventional war stance, cluster FUBAR 'peacekeeping' operations. Nothing but spackle on the cracks of the dam.

Ukraine has been hitting, hard, Russia's refineries, putting and keeping 30%-40% of Russia's refinery capacity offline. Ukraine also has been doing second, third, etc. hits to keep refineries offline and maybe destroy new replacement equipment and take out the technicians doing the repairs. Refineries are "easier", as they have key points in their processing that can be hit, shutting down the refinery. Oil fields are more spread out, with multiple targets spread across a large area. However, oil platforms on water ...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9XRx-SOb68

[Free Vulcan]

Ukraine has been hitting, hard, Russia's refineries, putting and keeping 30%-40% of Russia's refinery capacity offline. Ukraine also has been doing second, third, etc. hits to keep refineries offline and maybe destroy new replacement equipment and take out the technicians doing the repairs. Refineries are "easier", as they have key points in their processing that can be hit, shutting down the refinery. Oil fields are more spread out, with multiple targets spread across a large area. However, oil platforms on water ...

So far yes, but it seems like there's a number of players that want to go back to the old McNamara, bureaucrat UN style of warfighting like Nam.