Trump demands Europe repay Ukraine aid as envoys head to Moscow and Kyiv with peace plan

US President Donald Trump has escalated his pressure on European allies, insisting they must reimburse Washington for military aid provided to Ukraine under the Biden administration, even as his envoys prepare to travel to Moscow and Kyiv this weekend with a new proposal to end the war.

Speaking at the White House on Friday, Trump confirmed that special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner would depart for Russia and Ukraine carrying what he called “an idea for peace” (Al Jazeera, 4 Sep 2026). According to Russian state news agency TASS, the envoys are expected in Moscow on Saturday and Sunday – their first visit since January. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said they would be in Ukraine on Sunday, marking their first trip to the country since Trump returned to power.

Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett reported that the plan could include security guarantees for Ukraine and an initial ceasefire (Al Jazeera, 5 Sep 2026). However, Trump offered no specifics, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously described negotiations as “frozen”.

The diplomatic push comes alongside a renewed demand that Europe pay for the weapons and ammunition the United States has sent to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. Trump complained that the bulk of the assistance was delivered under former President Joe Biden “free of charge” and that Europe should have covered the cost. He said the US will now ask for the money back (Ukrainska Pravda, 3 Sep 2026).

In a panel discussion on Al Jazeera’s Inside Story, analysts noted the thorny nature of the issue. Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute argued that European governments have already contributed significantly, while Marina Miron of King’s College London warned that demanding repayment could fracture the Western alliance (Al Jazeera, 4 Sep 2026). Charles Kupchan of the Council on Foreign Relations said the move risks undermining trust just as Ukraine faces a critical winter.

Meanwhile, the war continues. On Friday, Russian drones struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in Kyiv, injuring at least 12 people, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko (Al Jazeera, 4 Sep 2026). Al Jazeera’s Audrey MacAlpine, reporting from Kyiv, said the attack raised questions about what else Russia might be able to hit.

Trump also expressed confidence that Putin does not plan to attack NATO countries (Ukrainska Pravda, 5 Sep 2026). That statement, made without supporting evidence, is likely to be met with skepticism in European capitals that have long warned of Russian revanchism.

For Ukraine and Europe, the coming days are pivotal. The envoys’ mission could either restart meaningful negotiations or expose the widening gap between Washington and its allies over who should foot the bill for Kyiv’s defence.