balance of resources is in Europe’s favor, but the balance of resolve is in Russia’s: If Europe has the political will to make use of its advantage in resources, Ukraine’s defense can greatly be bolstered. What happens if not? Max Bergmann, the director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies told CNBC that while European countries are likely to increase aid in the case of U.S. withdrawal “it is unclear if Ukraine can survive the gap between the withdrawal of U.S. aid and the ramp up of European defense production.” In the case that Europe didn’t step up its aid in the case of U.S. withdrawal, Ukraine would lose the war: “The danger is that we see in Kyiv in 2026 what we saw in Kaboul in 2021 — a military collapse, leading to the end of Ukraine and Ukrainian democracy.” Correction: This story was updated to correct the spelling of Nigel Gould-Davies and Max Bergmann’s names.