FT: Europe moves to cut Kyiv reliance on US intelligence within months

European countries could significantly reduce Ukraine’s dependence on US intelligence support within the next few months as allies step up their own capabilities.

EU leaders recently agreed on a systematic reduction of dependence on the United States in the medium and long term after US President Donald Trump temporarily suspended intelligence sharing and arms deliveries, according to sources cited by the Financial Times (FT).

On January 15, French President Emmanuel Macron said that France provides Ukraine with two-thirds of the intelligence Kyiv uses in the conflict against Russia.

Although Ukraine continues to urgently require weapons from US stockpiles — particularly air defence systems — its growing reliance on drone warfare and the rapid scaling-up of domestic arms production, which now covers around 60 per cent of its military needs, has reduced its overall dependence.

Even in the area of air defence, alternatives are emerging. Ukraine is expected to receive the first of several new Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG long-range systems this year. France claims these systems are more advanced than the Patriot, although they have yet to be tested in combat conditions.

At the same time, the alliance remains heavily reliant on the United States for key capabilities, notably intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance; combat communications and cloud computing; air defence; heavy transport aircraft; and the suppression of enemy air defences. European NATO members also lack sufficient quantities of long-range precision strike missiles.

According to a report published last year by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, fully replacing the US contribution would cost an estimated $1 trillion, based on one-off procurement expenses and a 25-year equipment life cycle. In certain areas, such as intelligence-gathering satellites, closing the gap left by the US could take a decade or longer.

By Jeyhun Aghazada