EU Leaders Gather to Boost Defense Budget in Response to US Realignment on Ukraine War

EU leaders gathered in a crisis summit on Thursday to strengthen their defense policies, amid concerns over the US’s evolving role in NATO and its stance on the Ukraine war. The EU leaders approved a defense budget to “re-arm Europe” and raise about 800 billion euros ($860 billion) for military spending, aiming at increased security against Russia’s perceived threat.

The action follows US President Donald Trump’s skepticism of the US commitment to NATO and its place in European security. Trump also wants a deal with Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, sparking concerns that Kyiv will be coerced into a bad deal.

EU leaders on the top offered open support to Ukraine, with the President Volodymyr Zelensky heading to Brussels to take the assistance. They reaffirmed again that any peace negotiations with Russia must include Ukraine and that Ukraine must be in the “strongest possible position” if there is going to be a sustainable peace.

Though there were not any new substantial aid pledges for Ukraine, Norway pledged to increase its 2025 aid two-fold to $7.8 billion. Simultaneously, the US and Ukraine resumed ceasefire talks with Russia, with a meeting scheduled for next week in Saudi Arabia.

In order to neutralize the present crisis, Britain has been attempting to mediate between Trump and Zelensky with French assistance by providing a one-month ceasefire in air, sea, and energy means. The Russian side, however, was against the idea of an interim ceasefire or European troops in Ukraine and requested a definitive solution instead.