European Union leaders have agreed to significantly increase defense budgets and reaffirm their commitment to supporting Ukraine amid shifting global dynamics. This decision comes as a response to a perceived reduction in U.S. military and financial aid under the Trump administration, which has reversed previous policies of robust support for Kyiv. At a special summit in Brussels, figures like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the urgency of bolstering Europe’s security framework. The plan includes ramping up arms production, enhancing military cooperation among member states, and ensuring sustained aid to Ukraine as it resists Russian aggression. This move signals a pivot toward greater European self-reliance in defense, reflecting concerns over an unpredictable U.S. foreign policy stance and the ongoing war’s toll on the continent’s eastern flank.
