Brussels, March 6
(Actonreviews) – European leaders have pledged to ramp up defense spending
and maintain steadfast support for Ukraine as geopolitical tensions intensify
following shifts in U.S. policy under Donald Trump.
Meeting in Brussels, EU leaders
expressed concerns that Russia, emboldened by its ongoing war in Ukraine, could
target an EU member state next. This uncertainty has fueled fears that Europe
can no longer depend on U.S. military assistance as it once did.
Strengthening European Defense
"Today, we have demonstrated
that the European Union is rising to the challenge—building a strong European
defense and standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine," said António
Costa, chairman of the summit.
Leaders welcomed the European
Commission’s proposal to allow more fiscal flexibility for defense spending.
The plan includes joint borrowing of up to €150 billion ($160 billion)
to help EU governments enhance their military capabilities. A joint statement
from all 27 EU members urged ministers to quickly evaluate and act on
these proposals.
"Europe must embrace this
challenge, this arms race—and it must win it," said Polish Prime
Minister Donald Tusk. He emphasized that Europe, as a collective force, is
stronger than Russia militarily, economically, and financially.
French President Emmanuel
Macron echoed this sentiment, stressing that this was just the beginning of
a larger effort. "Regardless of what happens in Ukraine, Europe must build
autonomous defense capabilities," he said.
Backing Ukraine Amid Internal
Divisions
EU leaders also reaffirmed their
commitment to Ukraine, though Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a
close ally of Trump and Moscow, distanced himself from the declaration.
The remaining 26 EU leaders
insisted that negotiations on Ukraine’s future must include Kyiv and pledged to
continue military and financial assistance. "We are here to defend
Ukraine," Costa stated, warmly welcoming Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskiy to the summit—an image contrasting sharply with Zelenskiy’s tense
recent meeting with Trump.
Despite strong support, Europe
faces challenges in replacing U.S. military aid, which accounted for over
40% of Ukraine’s defense assistance last year, according to NATO. Some
leaders remain hopeful that Washington might still be persuaded to maintain its
support.
"We must ensure—calmly and
wisely—that U.S. assistance remains intact in the coming months and years
because Ukraine depends on it," said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Macron also backed Zelenskiy’s
proposal for an air and naval truce between Ukrainian and Russian
forces, suggesting it could serve as a test of Moscow’s willingness to
negotiate an end to the war.
Exploring Nuclear Deterrence
Acknowledging the gravity of the
situation, Macron suggested that France was open to discussing the extension of
its nuclear deterrence to protect European allies.
Reactions to this idea were mixed
but largely positive. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda called it a
"serious deterrent against Russia," while Poland expressed
interest in exploring the proposal. However, some leaders, including those from
the Czech Republic, emphasized the importance of keeping the U.S. engaged in
Europe’s security.
Trump has repeatedly insisted
that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own defense. On
Thursday, he questioned whether the U.S. should protect NATO allies that fail
to meet their financial obligations. His shift toward a softer stance on
Moscow has raised alarm among European leaders, who regard Russia as the
region’s biggest security threat.
In response, Germany’s next
ruling coalition has agreed to lift borrowing restrictions to increase
defense spending. Meanwhile, Norway announced plans to more than double
its financial support for Ukraine this year while also expanding its own
military budget.
As Europe reassesses its security
strategy, leaders are preparing for a future where they may need to rely
more on themselves—both in defending their borders and in sustaining
Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression.