Senior US diplomat Matthew Whitaker has warned that European NATO countries lack the political will to send troops to Ukraine, emphasizing the United States’ central role in military support for the conflict. During a speech at the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia, Whitaker criticized NATO’s reluctance to take major steps without US involvement, pointing out that the US has provided over half of the military aid to Ukraine. Whitaker’s comments come amid tensions within the alliance, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined plans for a multinational force post-conflict, which were rebuked by Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. Russia has also warned against any Western troop presence in Ukraine, even as peacekeepers.