European Union leaders have convened for an emergency summit in Brussels to deal with escalating safety issues after the suspension of United States military aid to Ukraine.
Through the summit, European leaders have primarily targeted on strengthening their defence commitments and making certain continued help for Ukraine.
The gathering is the primary summit of the 27 nations since an explosive meeting on the White Home in Washington, DC, final week between US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Trump administration has since introduced a freeze on military aid and suspended intelligence-sharing with Ukraine – selections that would have dire penalties for Ukraine’s struggle efforts.
Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler, reporting from Brussels, stated there’s a actual worry amongst EU leaders that the US is altering course with regards to help for Ukraine.
“There’s an actual worry that the US may step away and go away Europe weak to Russian aggression,” she stated.
Among the many attendees in Brussels had been President Zelenskyy, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and French President Emmanuel Macron, who in remarks on Wednesday stated Russia is now not simply threatening Ukraine however can be doubtlessly now a severe risk to Europe.
Listed below are among the key takeaways from the summit:
‘Watershed second’: Defence spending to rise throughout Europe
One of many main outcomes of the summit is a renewed dedication from European leaders to spice up their defence budgets.
With the struggle in Ukraine persevering with and the EU searching for to rely much less on US help, leaders mentioned methods to reinforce Europe’s navy capabilities. The European Fee proposed measures resembling fiscal flexibility and even joint borrowing to assist member states enhance their defence spending.
Von der Leyen warned that Ukraine – and Europe as a complete – have arrived at a “watershed second”.
“Europe faces a transparent and current hazard, and due to this fact, Europe has to have the ability to defend itself, to defend itself. We now have to place Ukraine able to guard itself and to push for lasting and simply peace,” she stated.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban additionally referred to as for strengthening European nations’ defence capabilities.
After a gathering with Macron in France on Wednesday, Orban took to X to state: “My conferences in France confirmed that whereas we could disagree on the modalities of peace, we do agree that we should strengthen the defence capabilities of European nations.”
My conferences in France confirmed that whereas we could disagree on the modalities of peace, we do agree that we should strengthen the defence capabilities of European nations, & these efforts ought to empower member states somewhat than Brussels bureaucrats. pic.twitter.com/FDdZTuOnb8
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) March 6, 2025
Luxembourg’s prime minister, Luc Frieden, reiterated the necessity for Europe to reinforce its defence capabilities, saying it ought to occur even when some member states disagree.
“We’d like extra European defence, and if one or two nations don’t need to share that view, I believe that the others ought to go forward as a lot as they will. And that’s what I’m advocating for,” Frieden stated earlier than the assembly in Brussels.
‘Not alone’: Robust help for Ukraine and Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy has continued to obtain agency backing from European leaders, who additionally mentioned the growth of navy support and potential safety ensures for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy thanked European leaders for his or her continued help, saying it meant Ukraine was not “alone” in its combat to repel Russia’s invasion.
“It’s crucial you made a robust sign to the Ukrainian individuals,” he stated.
Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated a rejection of any “dictated peace” in Ukraine as talks between Washington and Moscow gasoline fears of an unfavourable settlement being imposed on Kyiv.
“It is extremely essential that we ensure that Ukraine doesn’t have to simply accept a dictated peace however that it’s a simply and honest peace that ensures [Ukraine’s] sovereignty and independence,” Scholz stated.
‘Coalition of the prepared’
At the least 20 nations, principally European and Commonwealth nations, have expressed curiosity in becoming a member of a “coalition of the willing” proposed this week by United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer to help Ukraine.
Starmer stated the UK, France and different nations would type this coalition to attract up plans to supply Ukraine help within the occasion of a peace deal to finish Russia’s struggle.
Nations which have publicly indicated they might contemplate sending peacekeepers to implement a deal embrace Australia, Eire, Luxembourg, Belgium and Turkiye, which has the second largest military in NATO after the US.
Numerous different nations haven’t dominated out sending troopers, together with Canada, Denmark and Sweden.
Whereas particulars stay beneath dialogue, the message was clear: Europe stays united in supporting Kyiv within the face of Russia.
“Europe as a complete is really able to successful any navy, monetary, financial confrontation with Russia. We’re merely stronger,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated. “We simply needed to begin believing in it. And right now it appears to be taking place.”
Navy support
Through the summit, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever stated his nation expects to ship F-16 fighter jets for battle in Ukraine in 2026. He stated the promised supply of the jets had been delayed as a result of Belgium is awaiting supply of recent F-35s to exchange them.
For its half, Sweden stated it can ship as much as eight Gripen fighter jets to participate in a NATO mission to police the airspace of Poland, which borders Ukraine.
The transfer comes after Sweden suspended plans to ship its domestically developed Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine final 12 months.
France proposes nuclear deterrence extension
A very notable second within the summit got here from Macron, who proposed extending France’s nuclear deterrence umbrella to different EU nations.
Such a transfer goals to strengthen Europe’s defence place. Nonetheless, it was met with blended reactions. Whereas some leaders welcomed the thought, others expressed issues about nuclear coverage complexities throughout the EU.
Poland and the Baltic nations welcomed Macron’s proposal.
Scholz expressed reservations, emphasising NATO’s current deterrence system and advocating for elevated defence spending throughout Europe as a substitute.
Requested to touch upon France’s supply, Scholz stated: “What we have now by way of nuclear involvement, … I don’t suppose that ought to be given up.”
Regardless of the robust help for ramping up defence capabilities, divisions remained over the best way to fund Europe’s elevated defence efforts. Some nations, together with Hungary, have voiced scepticism about joint financing plans and proposed defence commitments.
How has Russia reacted to the emergency summit?
Russia, in the meantime, stated it will not settle for the presence of European peacekeepers in Ukraine, claiming that might sign direct NATO involvement within the struggle.
The Kremlin additionally strongly decried as “extraordinarily confrontational” Macron’s warning on Wednesday about what he referred to as Russia’s “risk to Europe” and the necessity for unity.
His speech indicated that France is considering “persevering with the struggle”, Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov stated.
Samir Puri, a Russia knowledgeable at Chatham Home, stated it stays unclear what Russia considers to be “a suitable peace” to finish the battle as Zelenskyy advised Trump on Tuesday that he was prepared to debate phrases and put ahead an overview of a plan for peace.
“All we hear is … there’s a robust Russian opposition of the thought of NATO nations being concerned in a stabilisation pressure or peacekeeping pressure” as Russian forces are nonetheless making an attempt to grab territory, Puri advised Al Jazeera.
“There’s at all times a worry that that is all, from the Russian perspective, only a very handy means of offering a smokescreen for his or her continued want to push ahead on the battlefield,” he stated.
In remarks on Wednesday to ladies who misplaced family within the struggle, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that his nation ought to select a peace in Ukraine that can make sure the long-term safety of Russia and its sustainable growth.
“We should select for ourselves a peace possibility that can swimsuit us and that can guarantee peace for our nation in the long run,” Putin stated. “We don’t want the rest, however we received’t quit our personal,” he added.
What occurs subsequent?
Whereas the summit underscored Europe’s dedication to help Ukraine and increase its defence capabilities, it additionally revealed ongoing debates over funding and strategic course.
The approaching months shall be very important as EU leaders work to maneuver these discussions into concrete actions, making certain Europe can maintain its position in supporting Ukraine whereas reinforcing its personal safety, specialists stated.
Huw Roberts, a world markets funding specialist, stated the Trump administration’s shift away from Ukraine has supplied a lift to European markets. He stated that though, for now, Europe’s focus is on navy spending, that can result in “multiplier results”.
“Make America Nice Once more seems to be morphing into Make Europe Nice Once more,” he advised Al Jazeera, referring to Trump’s marketing campaign slogan. “And I don’t suppose we are able to understate simply how huge a shift we’ve seen within the final couple of weeks by way of the European coverage response to this new safety state of affairs.
“Clearly, it’s a horrible story within the broader context, however from a pure financial and funding perspective, all these billions of additional spending will ripple out and ought to be growth-positive for Europe on the broader stage.”
