The war in Ukraine, the fresh approach of the U.S. administration to Europe and the arms race launched by Russia pose fresh challenges. Europe must take this race and must win it," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the extraordinary European Council. EU leaders pointed out that they wanted “a lasting and just peace, not a forced force”.
On Thursday, an extraordinary European Council was held in Brussels, where further support for Ukraine was discussed and on European defence. Invitations were sent shortly before Donald Trump announced the decision to suspend American aid to Ukraine. The Brussels summit was attended by president of the European Council Antonio Costa, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, French president Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Ministers and Presidents of another EU associate States. The peculiar guest was the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski.
– We are on a day erstwhile everything can change," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk. "There is no uncertainty that the war in Ukraine, the fresh approach of the U.S. administration to Europe and, above all, the arms race launched by Russia, poses fresh challenges. Europe must take up this arms race and must win it," stressed the head of the Polish government.
According to Tuska, Europe is ready to arm faster, smarter and more efficiently. – I am convinced that this is simply a turning point, that Europe understood its responsibility added the Prime Minister, who called the US "a more demanding, hard partner". – But in fact, by arming ourselves, we should improve transatlantic relations. Maintaining NATO and an alliance with the United States must be our absolute priority. Even if the another side does not always give signals that it is interested, the Polish Prime Minister argued during the gathering in Brussels.
Donald Tusk estimated that France's proposal to extend the anticipation of deterrence with atomic weapons was “reconsiderable”. In his opinion, however, precedence is Safeguarding EU borders especially with Russia and Belarus. He besides expressed hope that the announcements of stopping American aid to Ukraine were “just a suggestion”.
“Ukraine is part of the European family. This is simply a turning point. Europe is facing a direct threat. We must push for lasting and just peace. We do not want peace by force,” stressed European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen in the presence of Volodymyr Zelenski. The president of Ukraine expressed his gratitude to European leaders for their support.
After gathering at the circular table, Zelenski met privately with the president of France. ‘Together in Brussels. A solid and solid room. For Europe's safety," he later wrote Macron on X under a common photo. "We discussed the upcoming gathering on 11 March at the level of military representatives of countries willing to make greater efforts to guarantee reliable safety in the context of the end of this war. We coordinated our positions and next steps," he wrote on his profile Zelenski. "We have an absolutely clear common imagination that real and lasting peace is possible through cooperation between Ukraine, all Europe and the United States. The war must end as shortly as possible," the president of Ukraine pointed out.
According to the AFP, the gathering scheduled for 11 March will be held in Paris and will be attended by the heads of the General Staff of the European States to discuss the possible deployment of their troops in Ukraine in order to warrant a truce.
The summary of Zelenski shows that the topics of the summit talks were issues specified as air defence, weapons and ammunition for Ukraine, timely deliveries, strengthening the Ukrainian defence industry, accession negotiations, the request to increase sanctions force on Russia and to combat circumvention. "I am grateful for the leadership in the discussion on strengthening Europe's defence capacity and strengthening Ukraine, as well as for all the support on the way to a just and lasting peace. It is very crucial that the Ukrainians are not alone – we feel it and we know it" - stressed the president of Ukraine.
The European Council estimates that since the beginning of Russian aggression, the Union and its associate States have provided nearly EUR 135 billion of assistance to Ukraine and its population, including EUR 48.7 billion, to support Ukrainian armed forces. Between 2021 and 2024, associate States' full defence spending increased by more than 30%, reaching EUR 326 billion in the past year (approximately 1.9% of EU GDP). It is expected that by 2027. real expenditure will increase by over EUR 100 billion.
In 2024, 1/3 of defence spending was invested in investments (€102 billion) and 90 billion was spent on defence equipment procurement. full R & D expenditure in the defence sector, covering all payments made until production started, amounted to EUR 13 billion in 2024.
