European Union leaders have convened for an emergency summit in Brussels to deal with escalating safety considerations 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 assist 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 – choices that might have dire penalties for Ukraine’s struggle efforts.
Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler, reporting from Brussels, mentioned there’s a actual worry amongst EU leaders that the US is altering course in relation to assist for Ukraine.
“There’s an actual worry that the US might step away and go away Europe weak to Russian aggression,” she mentioned.
Among the many attendees in Brussels have 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 mentioned Russia is now not simply threatening Ukraine however can also be probably now a severe risk to Europe.
Listed here are a few of the key takeaways from the summit:
‘Watershed second’: Defence spending to rise throughout Europe
One of many major 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 in search of to rely much less on US assist, leaders mentioned methods to boost Europe’s army capabilities. The European Fee proposed measures similar to fiscal flexibility and even joint borrowing to assist member states improve their defence spending.
Von der Leyen warned that Ukraine – and Europe as an entire – 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’ve to place Ukraine able to guard itself and to push for lasting and simply peace,” she mentioned.
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 might 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 might 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 boost 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 international locations don’t wish to share that view, I feel that the others ought to go forward as a lot as they will. And that’s what I’m advocating for,” Frieden mentioned earlier than the assembly in Brussels.
‘Not alone’: Sturdy assist for Ukraine and Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy has continued to obtain agency backing from European leaders, who additionally mentioned the enlargement of army assist and potential safety ensures for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy thanked European leaders for his or her continued assist, saying it meant Ukraine was not “alone” in its struggle to repel Russia’s invasion.
“It’s essential you made a powerful sign to the Ukrainian folks,” he mentioned.
Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated a rejection of any “dictated peace” in Ukraine as talks between Washington and Moscow gas fears of an unfavourable settlement being imposed on Kyiv.
“It is vitally vital that we make it possible for Ukraine doesn’t have to just accept a dictated peace however that it’s a simply and honest peace that ensures [Ukraine’s] sovereignty and independence,” Scholz mentioned.
‘Coalition of the keen’
A minimum of 20 international locations, 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 assist Ukraine.
Starmer mentioned the UK, France and different nations would type this coalition to attract up plans to supply Ukraine assist within the occasion of a peace deal to finish Russia’s struggle.
Nations which have publicly indicated they might take into account sending peacekeepers to implement a deal embody Australia, Eire, Luxembourg, Belgium and Turkiye, which has the second largest military in NATO after the US.
Quite a lot of different international locations haven’t dominated out sending troopers, together with Canada, Denmark and Sweden.
Whereas particulars stay underneath dialogue, the message was clear: Europe stays united in supporting Kyiv within the face of Russia.
“Europe as an entire is really able to successful any army, monetary, financial confrontation with Russia. We’re merely stronger,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk mentioned. “We simply needed to begin believing in it. And right now it appears to be taking place.”
Army assist
Through the summit, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever mentioned his nation expects to ship F-16 fighter jets for battle in Ukraine in 2026. He mentioned the promised supply of the jets had been delayed as a result of Belgium is awaiting supply of recent F-35s to interchange them.
For its half, Sweden mentioned 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 yr.
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 international locations.
Such a transfer goals to strengthen Europe’s defence place. Nonetheless, it was met with blended reactions. Whereas some leaders welcomed the concept, others expressed considerations about nuclear coverage complexities throughout the EU.
Poland and the Baltic nations welcomed Macron’s proposal.
Scholz expressed reservations, emphasising NATO’s present deterrence system and advocating for elevated defence spending throughout Europe as a substitute.
Requested to touch upon France’s supply, Scholz mentioned: “What we’ve by way of nuclear involvement, … I don’t assume that ought to be given up.”
Regardless of the robust assist for ramping up defence capabilities, divisions remained over the way to fund Europe’s elevated defence efforts. Some international locations, 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, mentioned it will not settle for the presence of European peacekeepers in Ukraine, claiming that will 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 International Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned.
Samir Puri, a Russia professional at Chatham Home, mentioned it stays unclear what Russia considers to be “an appropriate 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 powerful Russian opposition of the concept of NATO international locations being concerned in a stabilisation pressure or peacekeeping pressure” as Russian forces are nonetheless attempting to grab territory, Puri advised Al Jazeera.
“There may be at all times a worry that that is all, from the Russian perspective, only a very handy method of offering a smokescreen for his or her continued want to push ahead on the battlefield,” he mentioned.
In remarks on Wednesday to girls who misplaced family within the struggle, Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned that his nation ought to select a peace in Ukraine that can make sure the long-term safety of Russia and its sustainable improvement.
“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 mentioned. “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 assist Ukraine and enhance its defence capabilities, it additionally revealed ongoing debates over funding and strategic path.
The approaching months can be important as EU leaders work to maneuver these discussions into concrete actions, making certain Europe can maintain its function in supporting Ukraine whereas reinforcing its personal safety, consultants mentioned.
Huw Roberts, a world markets funding specialist, mentioned the Trump administration’s shift away from Ukraine has offered a lift to European markets. He mentioned that though, for now, Europe’s focus is on army 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 assume we are able to understate simply how large 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 degree.”
