The EU increases its investment in Defence so as not to depend on the United States and to support Ukraine
After Donald Trump's announcement that he would withdraw aid to Ukraine in the context of the Russian invasion and the humiliation of Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski at the White House, where the new US president and his closest collaborators held a meeting with a rather brusque tone with the Ukrainian leader, the European Union (EU) has not hesitated to step up to the plate to increase its defensive capabilities through a significant investment and to support Ukraine.
The EU's top leaders held an extraordinary summit chaired by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and António Costa, President of the European Council, at which they personally received and showed their support for Volodimir Zelenski. In addition to announcing a significant boost for the European defence shield.
The leaders of the European Union approved the accelerated rearmament of the EU despite the opposition of Hungarian President Viktor Orban, who is close to the sphere of influence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The investment package could mobilise up to 800 billion euros, between national and European funds, within a period of four years.
"This is a watershed moment for Europe. And for Ukraine, as part of our European family.
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) March 6, 2025
We have to put Ukraine in the condition to protect itself and to push for a lasting and just peace."
— President @vonderleyen doorstep ahead of #EUCO special summit. pic.twitter.com/ZYaExHeT1T
This initiative would provide strong support for the European defence industry, allowing for greater defensive autonomy from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and, above all, the United States, the great guarantor of Western security since the end of the Second World War.
The current geopolitical scenario has changed a lot since the disintegration of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the end of the Cold War, which saw a confrontation between the communist world defended by the countries of the Soviet sphere and the capitalist West led by the United States. An American giant that found itself at the head of the world in a unipolar system that has now changed towards a multipolar system with many actors interested in exercising international leadership, such as today's Russia or China.
Russia made a controversial and aggressive decision with the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 to take over Ukrainian territories considered its own by Vladimir Putin's regime and, from then on, it has been seen that the international order as it was known has been put in danger and that there are international actors who try to take the initiative at the expense of postulates that were commonly accepted in the international arena.
Coinciding with the last extraordinary summit of the EU, the United States and Ukraine announced a new round of dialogue on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia on a possible negotiation process to end the war that began with the invasion of Russia, taking into account the good relations between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
But this closeness between the two leaders jeopardises the position on the Ukraine conflict, which is of vital importance and puts the balance and security of Europe at risk.
Donald Trump has already announced the cessation of aid to Ukraine and, in addition, he was the protagonist of the meeting with Volodimir Zelenski from which the Ukrainian president emerged humiliated and with the announcement of a lack of support from the American giant.
In response, the European Union has stepped forward and supported Volodimir Zelenski by announcing an aid package for Ukraine and a significant investment in European defence so as not to depend on other international actors who acted as the main guarantors of international security in the face of the possible threat of belligerent countries.
The special #EUCO is over!
— EU Council (@EUCouncil) March 7, 2025
EU leaders discussed European defence and Ukraine.
They called for speeding up efforts to increase defence spending.
The EU will continue to provide Ukraine with regular and predictable financial support.
See main results ⬇️
‘We are moving decisively towards a strong and more sovereign European defence,’ said Portugal's António Costa, President of the European Council, the body representing the 27 Member States. “We are delivering on our promise to build our deterrence capability to reinforce the security of our citizens,” insisted the former Portuguese Prime Minister.
The President of Ukraine expressed his gratitude for European support for his country after the suspension of US military aid. ‘We are very grateful because we are not alone,’ Zelensky said during the summit.
