European leaders met on Thursday to discuss higher defense spending and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine in a Western world order that has been shaken by the US’s departure from its traditional role. The European Union’s defense summit in Brussels took place under the premise that Russia, “emboldened by its war in Ukraine” could be the next to attack an EU member state and that Europe could no longer rely on US help in such a scenario.
“The European Union has shown today that it accepts the challenge, builds a European defense and stands by Ukraine’s side” said the summit’s chairman, António Costa, to journalists.
EU leaders have welcomed the European Commission’s proposals to grant fiscal flexibility for defense spending and to jointly borrow up to 150 billion euros (160 billion dollars) to lend to EU governments for their military expenditures.
In a joint statement by all 27 member states, the leaders called on their ministers to promptly review these proposals.
“Europe must face this challenge, this arms race and it must win” said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a special summit on defense in Brussels. “Europe as a whole is really capable of winning any military, financial and economic confrontation with Russia – we are simply stronger” Tusk added.
In Ukraine policy, Europe still lacks a unified line, as some states resist the EU’s war policy. The recent EU statement was agreed upon without Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who maintains good relations with Moscow.
In their statement, the 26 other EU leaders and heads of government emphasized that there can be no negotiations over Ukraine without Ukraine and promised to continue helping the country, as outlined in a current draft.
According to NATO, Washington provided more than 40 percent of military aid to Ukraine last year, a contribution that Europe, at least in part, cannot easily replace. Some leaders at least publicly still held out hope that Washington could be re-engaged in the process.
“We must ensure, with a cool and clever head, that the US support is guaranteed in the coming months and years, as Ukraine is also dependent on its support in its defense” said the outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Macron said that the leaders welcomed President Zelensky’s appeal to support the idea of a ceasefire between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the air and at sea. Zelensky told EU leaders that such a ceasefire would be a chance to test Moscow’s willingness to end its three-year invasion.
Trump has again stated that Europe must take more responsibility for its own security and on Thursday, his comments raised doubts about his willingness to defend NATO allies, saying he would not do so if they do not pay enough for their own defense.