European countries are ready to significantly reduce and, in the long term, largely replace US intelligence support for Ukraine within a few months. This was reported by the Financial Times, citing Western and European officials.
According to the publication, in the year since Donald Trump returned to the White House and sharply reduced US military aid to Kyiv, European allies have significantly increased their own capabilities in the areas of intelligence, surveillance and targeting.
In mid-January 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Paris already provides about two-thirds of all intelligence information that Ukraine receives from its partners. ‘A year ago, Ukraine was extremely dependent on American intelligence capabilities, but today France provides two-thirds of it,’ Macron emphasised.
One official told the FT that Kyiv’s dependence on US intelligence ‘could be significantly reduced within a few months,’ although complete replacement remains technically challenging. European countries are actively developing alternative sources: satellite imagery from commercial operators (including ICEYE and others), unmanned aerial vehicle data, ground and airborne intelligence assets, and think tanks.
Experts attribute the acceleration of this process to Washington’s unstable position on Ukraine following the arrival of the new administration. European leaders are increasingly talking about the need for strategic autonomy for the EU in the defence sphere, especially against the backdrop of statements that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security and support for Ukraine.