"EU Leaders Convene in Brussels to Strengthen Defence and Support Ukraine Amid Growing Tensions"

EU leaders are gathering in Brussels on Thursday for a special council on defence, with French President Emmanuel Macron emphasizing that Europe is at a "turning point in history." As the summit focuses on rearmament and security, leaders will also discuss ways to further support Ukraine, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to suspend aid to Kyiv earlier this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been invited to the summit, underscoring the significance of the ongoing conflict and the EU's commitment to supporting Ukraine.

The atmosphere in Europe has grown increasingly tense since the confrontation between Trump and Zelensky at the White House last week, with many European leaders now questioning whether the continent can still rely on the U.S. for security. The rhetoric surrounding Thursday's summit signals the gravity with which EU officials are approaching the issue.

With Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine entering its third year, many Europeans have voiced concern over the Trump administration's friendly gestures toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising fears that Europe could be left to defend itself without the traditional backing of the U.S. The situation has been further complicated by Washington’s decision on Wednesday to pause intelligence sharing with Ukraine, deepening worries across the EU about the reliability of American support.

In response to these growing concerns, Macron indicated that France was open to discussing extending the protection of its nuclear arsenal to European partners. This follows a call from Friedrich Merz, the likely future Chancellor of Germany, to consider increased nuclear sharing among European nations. The depth of these concerns was echoed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who described Europe as facing a "clear and present danger" of unprecedented scale. Meanwhile, European Council President António Costa called the moment a "defining" one for both Ukraine and European security.

Von der Leyen has called for Europe to "meet the moment" by mobilizing its industrial and productive capabilities to enhance security. In a move to address the continent's long-term defence needs, von der Leyen unveiled the “ReArm Europe” defence package on Monday, which calls for a massive increase in Europe’s defence spending. This unprecedented plan is aimed at both supporting Ukraine and addressing Europe’s growing reliance on its own defences, rather than relying solely on the U.S.

The three key proposals within the ReArm Europe plan include:

• Allowing European nations to increase their national deficit levels in order to free up funds for more defence spending.
• Providing €150bn in loans for defence investments in areas critical to the EU’s security, such as air and missile defence, anti-drone systems, and military mobility.
• Allowing countries to redirect funds meant for cohesion policies—designed to reduce regional inequalities—towards defence spending.

Additionally, the European Investment Bank would be authorized to finance military projects. Von der Leyen estimates that these initiatives could unlock up to €800bn in defence expenditures across Europe.

Many European leaders have expressed strong support for the plan and for rapid action on defense. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised the Commission’s proposal as a “fundamental shift,” while Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda stressed that the summit is an opportunity for Europe to demonstrate whether it is merely a "debate club" or capable of making decisive, action-oriented decisions.

However, not all European leaders are aligned. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized the EU’s "peace through strength" approach as "unrealistic," while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban took a more hardline stance, demanding that Ukraine be excluded from any written conclusions of the summit. Orban, who has consistently opposed EU aid to Ukraine, noted the growing "strategic divide" between Europe and the U.S., with one side advocating for prolonging the war and the other seeking an end to the conflict. Despite this, Orban left open the possibility of cooperation with other EU leaders on broader security and defence matters.

As Thursday’s summit in Brussels unfolds, UK Defence Secretary John Healey will be in Washington, discussing the U.S. decision to halt intelligence sharing with Ukraine and exploring potential peace initiatives. The ongoing discussions aim to bridge the gap between the U.S. and Europe over Ukraine’s future security.

In a final attempt to unify Europe ahead of the summit, Macron invited Orban to dinner in Paris on Wednesday evening. The meeting came shortly after Macron delivered a sober address to the nation, emphasizing the need for Europe to be prepared to defend itself, even if the U.S. decides to step back. Macron stressed that Europe’s future should not be dependent on Washington or Moscow, and that Europe must be ready for all possibilities. Next week, Macron will host a meeting of European army chiefs in Paris to discuss further steps in strengthening European defence capabilities.

As the crisis summit begins, Macron concluded, "The moment calls for unprecedented decisions," signaling that Europe must take decisive steps to protect itself and secure its future in a rapidly changing global landscape.