European leaders have agreed to ramp up defence spending and stand firmly with Ukraine, as Donald Trump’s shift in U.S. foreign policy shakes global security.
At a special defence summit in Brussels, leaders warned that Europe can no longer rely on U.S. protection and must prepare for future threats from Russia. "Europe must win this arms race," said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The EU is considering new fiscal flexibility and joint borrowing of up to €150 billion to boost military budgets across the bloc. French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the need for Europe to build its own defence capabilities, regardless of what happens in Ukraine.
The summit also reaffirmed strong support for Ukraine — although Hungary’s Viktor Orban refused to back the statement. The remaining 26 EU leaders pledged ongoing aid and rejected any peace talks without Ukraine’s involvement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy joined the summit, urging support for a temporary air and sea truce to test Russia’s willingness to negotiate.
With U.S. aid to Ukraine now uncertain, Europe is facing tough choices. France has even floated the idea of extending its nuclear protection to the rest of the EU — an idea that drew mixed but serious reactions from other leaders.
The message from Brussels was clear: Europe must take charge of its own security, and standing by Ukraine is part of that mission.
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