Spain’s Pedro Sánchez was among European Union leaders pledging on Thursday to strengthen the continent’s defences and unlock hundreds of billions of euros for security, following repeated warnings from US President Donald Trump that he might abandon Europe to face the Russian threat alone.
Faced with the increasing likelihood that they will need to rely on themselves, EU countries – many of which have underinvested in defence for decades – gathered for urgent discussions in Brussels. The talks focused on strengthening military capabilities and securing on-going support for Ukraine.
‘We are at a historic moment that requires Europeans to firmly take responsibility for our security and defence by protecting our strategic autonomy. This is Europe’s moment,’ Sánchez said to reporters after the meeting in Brussels.
The Spanish prime minister stressed the need to build security guarantees so that peace is not a ‘mere timeout’ that allows Russia to regroup and launch new attacks with greater intensity. He also highlighted his government’s announcement of a new military support package for Ukraine worth 1 billion euros in 2025, as part of the Bilateral Security Agreement.
‘Our support for Ukraine is unwavering,’ said Sánchez, also warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ‘neo-imperialist vision goes beyond Ukraine’ and that the security and defence of Ukraine are the security and defence of Europe.
‘Today history is being written,’ said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the summit concluded.
She emphasised that the 27 EU member states 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.’
The EU’s commitment reflects a major shift in global politics, largely triggered by Trump’s stance. His position has challenged the decades-old framework where the US guaranteed the defence of European allies after World War Two.
At the summit, leaders approved measures to relax budget rules, allowing member states to increase military spending. They also called on the European Commission to find new ways ‘to facilitate significant defence spending’ across the bloc, according to an official statement.
The Commission estimates that these changes could free up approximately 650 billion euros. Additionally, the leaders acknowledged an offer from the Commission to provide 150 billion euros in loans for purchasing military equipment. They urged EU officials ‘to examine this proposal as a matter of urgency’. ALSO READ: ‘EU faces clear & present danger’, as it unveils €800 billion plan to ‘ReArm Europe’.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, known as a vocal Trump supporter and considered the closest European ally of Putin, refused to back a portion of the summit’s statement supporting Ukraine.
However, the remaining 26 EU leaders endorsed the principle that no negotiations on Ukraine’s future should occur without Ukraine’s participation, and that Europe must play a central role in any talks concerning its security. So far, European nations have been excluded from direct US-led negotiations with Russia.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left, in main image, alongside Pedro Sánchez) announced that discussions between Ukraine and the United States aimed at ending the war would take place in Saudi Arabia next week. In his nightly address, Zelensky mentioned his plans to visit the Saudi crown prince on Monday, while his team would stay to continue talks with US officials.
In recent weeks, Trump’s actions have shaken the long-standing assumption that the US is a reliable security partner. His more conciliatory approach to Russia, the suspension of military aid to Ukraine, and his willingness to disrupt transatlantic cooperation have prompted Europe to reconsider its defence strategy.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk underscored the new reality, saying that three years of conflict in Ukraine combined with shifting US attitudes present ‘entirely new challenges for us, and Europe must take up this challenge … and it must win’.
‘We will arm ourselves faster, smarter and more efficiently than Russia,’ Tusk said.
Zelensky welcomed the EU’s decision to ease budget restrictions and expressed hope that some of the additional spending would boost Ukraine’s defence industry. He highlighted Ukraine’s ability to produce weapons more affordably and closer to the front lines.
‘We are very thankful that we are not alone, and these are not just words. We feel it. It’s very important,’ Zelensky said. He appeared noticeably more at ease among European leaders in Brussels than during his recent, tense visit to Washington, where he faced criticism from Trump.
Discussions on accelerating defence spending also included Friedrich Merz – the likely next chancellor of Germany – and summit chair Antonio Costa. Merz advocated for easing Germany’s borrowing limits to facilitate higher defence spending. Other leaders echoed the urgency.
‘Spend, spend, spend on defence and deterrence. That’s the most important message,’ said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
This renewed focus on military investment marks a significant break from previous decades, during which defense budgets across Europe steadily declined following the end of the Cold War.
French President Emmanuel Macron, in a televised speech on Wednesday, stressed the importance of bold action.
‘Member states will be able to increase their military spending,’ Macron said, adding 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 discussed with EU counterparts the potential role of France’s nuclear arsenal in deterring Russian aggression.
Despite the ambitious goals, the immediate benefits of von der Leyen’s budget plan are uncertain. Much of the additional military funding would come from national governments already struggling with heavy debt burdens.
To address these concerns, the proposal includes provisions to prevent EU states from being penalised for breaching budget limits if the excess spending is directed toward defence.
‘Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself,’ von der Leyen said.
France, for instance, is grappling with a budget deficit of 5% of GDP and a national debt that stands at 112% of GDP – driven higher by emergency spending during the Covid-19 pandemic and the energy crisis linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Other eurozone countries with debt levels exceeding 100% of GDP include Belgium, Greece, Spain, Italy, and Portugal. Germany, Europe’s largest economy, maintains more fiscal flexibility with a debt ratio of 62% of GDP.
Part of the EU’s defence strategy also involves assisting Ukraine in protecting itself from on-going Russian attacks.
On Thursday, a Russian missile strike on Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih killed four people staying at a hotel. The victims included volunteers from a humanitarian group, among them Ukrainian, American and British nationals. 31 others were injured in the attack.
Earlier this week, Trump ordered a halt to US military aid shipments to Ukraine, using the pause to push for negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. This decision added urgency to the EU summit’s deliberations.
However, the Brussels meeting did not directly address Ukraine’s immediate need for more weapons and ammunition. Nor did it resolve the question of whether to release approximately 183 billion euros in frozen Russian assets held in a Belgian clearing house – funds that could offer a critical financial lifeline to Ukraine.
ALSO READ: Keir Starmer hosts world leaders in London to get Ukraine peace talks back on track.
Este es otro momento de la historia en el que saldremos adelante con más Unión Europea.
España dará lo mejor de sí para que así sea. pic.twitter.com/X2g2bstqrI
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) March 6, 2025
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