Ukraine's allies worry after US withdraws aid

European officials feel the move may embolden Putin, other aggressors

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The decision by US lawmakers to drop a $6 billion aid package for Ukraine is fuelling anxiety among some of Kyiv's allies that American support for the war effort is starting to waver.

Congress abandoned the funding for Kyiv to help avoid a government shutdown just as Ukraine intensifies efforts to repel Russia's invasion, stoking concerns that the US is drifting toward isolationism. Less than two weeks ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited the US capital to plead for new weapons systems and continued financial and military support.

The funding development is concerning and needs to be resolved quickly, according to one senior European official, who asked not to be identified. There's a broader shift in US sentiment, and Putin and other aggressors may be emboldened in the absence of unwavering western support, the official added. One European Union leader predicted that the situation is likely to get more difficult as US elections approach.