Leaders from several EU member states have sought to convince US President-elect Donald Trump to maintain financial support for Ukraine’s military efforts against Russia, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed sources.

Trump achieved a decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the recent presidential election, with Republicans also regaining control of the Senate and likely retaining a majority in the House. Following the election, numerous EU leaders have reached out to congratulate him.

According to the WSJ, Trump has been largely noncommittal regarding Ukraine during these discussions, primarily listening and posing questions, as reported by anonymous officials familiar with the talks.

The newspaper noted that EU leaders attending the European Political Community summit in Hungary this week appear to have differing views on Ukraine. During a dinner on Thursday at the Budapest parliament, leaders from the Baltic states and Scandinavia urged the EU to enhance its support for Kyiv in the event of a reduction in US assistance. In contrast, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni appeared less supportive.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is hosting the summit, has called on Trump to initiate negotiations for a ceasefire in Ukraine at the earliest opportunity. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has also expressed his support for peace.

After the dinner, European Council President Charles Michel informed reporters that the bloc has been attempting to convince Trump that showing weakness towards Russia would convey a negative message to China and the global community. The previous day, Macron reportedly urged Trump to obtain “real concessions” from Russia during any discussions regarding Ukraine.

On Thursday, Macron emphasized at the summit that “our interest is in ensuring that Russia does not prevail in this war… Because a Russian victory would mean an imperialist power positioned at our borders.”

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated that the summit must deliver a “clear message” to Trump, affirming that “we will support Ukraine for as long and as much as necessary.”

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky addressed the EPC summit, stating that he was uncertain about Trump’s intentions but emphasized that Kyiv must determine the agenda for concluding the conflict. He also urged the European Union to release approximately $300 billion in frozen Russian sovereign assets in the event that the U.S. withdraws its support, asserting that these funds “rightfully belong” to Ukraine.

The Wall Street Journal noted that Ukraine remains “overwhelmingly dependent on foreign military assistance and budgetary support” from Western nations.

Since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, the United States has provided the Ukrainian government with $106 billion, which includes $70 billion in military aid, alongside an additional $70 billion allocated for various U.S. initiatives related to Ukraine. The European Union has contributed a total of $133 billion in financial, humanitarian, refugee, and military support. Additionally, Norway and the United Kingdom, both NATO members but not part of the EU, have also invested billions in assistance.