Brussels (TDI): President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked EU leaders Thursday for standing by Ukraine’s side, as the bloc kicked off crisis negotiations on confronting US President Donald Trump’s pivot away from Kyiv and its transatlantic partners.
Thursday’s summit brings all 27 European Union leaders together for the first time since the explosive meeting between President Trump and Zelensky last week.
Since then, the United States has suspended the military assistance and intelligence sharing that has helped Ukraine fight off Russia’s invasion.
Ukraine is very grateful that it is not alone. And these are not just words,” the Ukrainian president told journalists as the summit started, standing alongside EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa.
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With Washington’s long-term commitment to Europe’s security now in doubt, the EU is under pressure to rise to the moment.
“This is a watershed moment for Europe,” said von der Leyen, who has presented a plan aimed at mobilising 800 billion euros to “re-arm Europe” faced with the threat from Moscow.
“Europe faces a clear danger, and therefore it has to be able to protect itself,” the commission chief said.
She added that it is also a watershed moment for Ukraine.
“We have to put Ukraine in a position to protect itself and to push for enduring peace.”
Leaders are likely to give a green light Thursday to the commission’s defence plans, based largely on freeing countries to spend much more — something the bloc’s two economic powerhouses look set to do.
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In a national address on the summit’s eve, French President Emmanuel Macron urged for a defence spending surge to confront a “new era” and stated he would discuss extending France’s nuclear deterrent to European partners.
“Who can believe that Moscow of today will stop at Ukraine?” Macron asked.
“I want to believe that the Washington will support us, but we have to be ready for that not to be the case.”
