At a summit in Brussels, EU leaders endorsed European Commission proposals to allow more fiscal flexibility for defence expenditures and explore joint borrowing of up to EUR 150 billion to bolster military capabilities across member states.
In a joint statement, all 27 leaders urged their governments to urgently assess these proposals, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The meeting took place amid growing concerns that Russia, emboldened by its ongoing war in Ukraine, could target an EU country next—and fears that Europe may no longer be able to rely on US military support, the Reuters news agency reported.
Support for Ukraine
EU leaders also reiterated their backing for Ukraine, though Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Trump, withheld his endorsement.
The remaining 26 leaders said in their statement that any negotiations on Ukraine’s future must involve Kyiv and vowed to continue providing assistance.
"We are here to defend Ukraine," summit chairman António Costa declared as he and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warmly welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—an image starkly contrasting last week’s tense Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelensky.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that Europe must take greater responsibility for its security and has warned that the United States will not protect NATO allies that fail to meet defence spending targets.
His recent shift from strong US support for Ukraine to a more conciliatory approach toward Moscow has alarmed European leaders, who view Russia as the continent’s biggest security threat, Reuters reported.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said ahead of the summit that European nations must win a "new arms race" started by Russia.
"Europe must take up this challenge, this arms race—and it must win it," Tusk said.
"Europe as a whole is truly capable of winning any military, financial, economic confrontation with Russia - we are simply
stronger," he added.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Photo: РАР/EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON
(gs)
Source: Reuters, IAR, PAP