EU leaders reaffirm their commitment to support Ukraine, yet do not provide specific assurances

European Union leaders announced on Thursday their ongoing commitment to support Ukraine, although they did not immediately agree to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s request for a minimum of 5 billion euros for artillery ammunition purchases. Zelenskiy, addressing the EU leaders via video link from Brussels, emphasized the urgent need for funding, stating, “We require funds for artillery shells and would greatly appreciate Europe’s assistance with at least five billion euros ($5.42 billion) as soon as possible.”

Kaja Kallas, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, urged leaders to translate their verbal support for Kyiv into tangible actions, especially as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to negotiate an end to the conflict, including potential engagement with Russia. Kallas remarked, “The stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they will be at the negotiation table,” referring to the Ukrainian forces.

In a collective statement, all EU leaders, with the exception of Hungary’s Viktor Orban, committed to “continuing to provide Ukraine with regular and predictable financial support.” They also called for EU members to “urgently enhance efforts to meet Ukraine’s critical military and defense requirements.”

While there was no definitive response regarding the 5 billion euros, summit chair Antonio Costa noted that EU members had recently pledged 15 billion euros in aid to Ukraine and expressed confidence that these commitments would be further increased. Kallas had earlier suggested a potential military aid package of up to 40 billion euros for Ukraine by 2025, with contributions based on each country’s economic capacity, though this proposal faced opposition from several southern European nations.

The summit agenda also included discussions on strengthening the EU’s own defenses, driven by significant concerns that Moscow might target an EU member state in the near future, alongside uncertainties regarding the future of U.S. protection for Europe through the NATO defense alliance.

Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda emphasized the necessity of rearming, stating, “We must rearm ourselves; otherwise, we risk becoming the next victims of Russian aggression.” However, some southern European capitals have shown hesitation, highlighting a divide between nations closer to Russia, which have provided more support to Ukraine, and those further away, which have contributed less relative to their economies.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his disapproval of the term “rearm,” frequently used by the European Commission in its advocacy for increased defense expenditure. He noted, “It is crucial to recognize that the challenges we face in the southern neighborhood differ somewhat from those encountered by the eastern flank.”

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Ukrainian President Zelenskiy will visit Paris next Thursday to engage in discussions with a coalition of supportive countries regarding strategies to bolster Ukraine’s defense.

Defence spending

In terms of defense spending, EU leaders also reviewed the Commission’s proposals, which advocate for European nations to collaborate on joint military initiatives and increase their procurement of European-made arms. Macron remarked, “I believe Europe has never acted as swiftly as it has in recent weeks.” He added, “Europe was initially established to prevent war and later evolved into a single market. It had not developed the means to become a true power until now. We are currently building these capabilities in real-time and at an accelerated pace.” Some leaders, including Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, called for the EU to enhance its support for defense financing by considering grants for member states rather than solely relying on loans.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized the need for “genuinely shared European instruments that do not impose direct debt on member states.” In contrast, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof reiterated his strong opposition to the concept of joint euro bonds.

During the early evening, EU leaders engaged in discussions regarding the economic challenges confronting the bloc, particularly its efforts to remain competitive while transitioning to decarbonized industries and catching up with competitors like the United States and China in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence.

They underscored that the EU’s capacity to invest in defense is contingent upon its economic stability and urged advancements this year in three key areas: reducing bureaucratic obstacles, ensuring access to affordable and clean energy, and fostering a more dynamic capital market to attract billions of euros in private investment for necessary projects.