On Thursday, European Union leaders committed to strengthening the continent’s defenses and mobilizing hundreds of billions of euros for security in response to repeated warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump that he may leave Europe to face the threat from Russia alone.
With growing recognition that they may need to take responsibility for their own defense, nations that have historically lagged in military spending convened emergency talks in Brussels. Their discussions focused on enhancing security measures and ensuring continued support for Ukraine.
“Today history is being written,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters following the summit.
She emphasized the EU’s unified stance, stating that all 27 leaders are “determined to ensure Europe’s security and to act with the scale, the speed and the resolve that this situation demands. We are determined to invest more, to invest better and to invest faster together.”
This commitment signals a major geopolitical shift driven by Trump’s approach, which has challenged the post-World War II framework in which the U.S. played a key role in European security.
EU leaders approved measures to relax budgetary restrictions, allowing member states to increase military expenditures. Additionally, they urged the European Commission to explore new avenues “to facilitate significant defense spending” across the bloc, according to an official statement.
The European Commission estimates that approximately 650 billion euros ($702 billion) could be unlocked through these changes.
Leaders also acknowledged a proposal from the Commission offering 150 billion euros ($162 billion) in loans for acquiring new military equipment and requested that EU officials evaluate this initiative with urgency.
Hungary’s Opposition and Ukraine’s Role
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, known for his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his support for Trump, declined to endorse parts of the summit’s conclusions regarding Ukraine.
Nevertheless, the remaining 26 EU leaders reaffirmed their position that any negotiations concerning Ukraine’s future must include Ukraine itself and that European nations must be directly involved in any talks related to their security. Thus far, European leaders have largely been excluded from U.S.-led discussions with Russia.
In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced upcoming negotiations between Ukraine and the U.S. regarding the war, set to take place in Saudi Arabia next week.
He stated in his nightly address that he would travel to meet Saudi Arabia’s crown prince on Monday, while his delegation would remain for discussions with U.S. officials.
Uncertainty Over U.S. Commitments
In recent weeks, Trump’s actions have disrupted long-standing assumptions about the reliability of the U.S. as a security ally. His outreach to Russia, withdrawal of military support for Ukraine, and departure from traditional transatlantic cooperation have shaken the foundations of Western security policy.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, warned that Europe must adapt to these new realities.
“Three years of war in Ukraine and shifting attitudes in Washington pose entirely new challenges for us, and Europe must take up this challenge … and it must win,” he said.
“We will arm ourselves faster, smarter, and more efficiently than Russia,” Tusk added.
EU LeadersSupport for Increased Defense Spending
Zelenskyy welcomed the EU’s decision to loosen budgetary constraints, expressing hope that some of the increased spending would be directed toward Ukraine’s defense industry. He noted that Ukrainian manufacturers can produce weapons more cost-effectively than those in other parts of Europe while being closer to the battlefield.
“We are very thankful that we are not alone, and these are not just words. We feel it. It’s very important,” Zelenskyy said. He appeared notably more at ease among European leaders in Brussels than during his recent visit to Washington, where he received a blunt reception from Trump.
Germany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and summit chairman Antonio Costa discussed strategies to strengthen Europe’s defenses within a tight timeframe. Merz has pushed for easing Germany’s strict debt rules to allow for increased military spending.
Other leaders also signaled their willingness to act.
“Spend, spend, spend on defense and deterrence. That’s the most important message,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters.
This marks a dramatic departure from decades of declining military expenditures in Europe, where defense often ranked low on government spending priorities after the Cold War.
French President Emmanuel Macron, in a national address on Wednesday, emphasized the EU’s commitment to taking “decisive steps.”
“Member states will be able to increase their military spending,” Macron said, highlighting that “massive joint funding will be provided to buy and produce some of the most innovative munitions, tanks, weapons, and equipment in Europe.”
Macron also engaged in discussions with fellow EU leaders on the potential role of France’s nuclear deterrent in protecting the continent from Russian threats.
Addressing Financial Constraints
Despite the ambitious spending plans, the short-term financial implications remain complex. Most of the additional defense spending will need to come from national budgets, even as several EU member states struggle with high debt levels.
One component of the EU’s proposal includes provisions to prevent countries facing financial difficulties from being penalized for exceeding deficit limits if the excess spending is allocated to defense.
“Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself,” von der Leyen stated.
France, for example, is grappling with a budget deficit of 5% of GDP after increasing spending to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The country’s total debt now stands at 112% of GDP.
Several other eurozone nations—including Belgium, Greece, Spain, Italy, and Portugal—also have debt levels exceeding 100% of GDP. Meanwhile, Germany, Europe’s largest economy, has more fiscal room to maneuver, with a debt level of 62% of GDP.
Ukraine’s Security Needs
A key part of any European security plan involves ensuring Ukraine has the necessary means to defend itself. This was underscored by a recent Russian missile strike on Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih.
The attack killed four people at a hotel housing humanitarian workers, injuring 31 others, including volunteers from Ukraine, the U.S., and the U.K.
Earlier this week, Trump ordered a halt to U.S. military supplies to Ukraine, in what appeared to be an effort to pressure Zelenskyy into peace negotiations with Russia. This move heightened the urgency of Thursday’s EU summit.
However, the Brussels meeting was not aimed at directly addressing Ukraine’s immediate military needs. It also did not secure additional arms and ammunition to compensate for the U.S. aid freeze.
Furthermore, not all EU nations are willing to unlock the estimated 183 billion euros ($196 billion) in frozen Russian assets held in Belgium—a potential source of funding that remains untapped.