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Five days after Zelensky thrown out of the White House After the collision, which led to the suspension of military assistance and the US intelligence support, he was promised “solid” support for all but one of the bloc leaders.
They also pledged to increase their own defense capabilities before the uncertain transatlantic connection.
Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban has refused to support a joint support statement, forcing the other 26 leaders to issue a text without it.
“Dear Volodimir, we were with you since the first day,” said Antonio Kosta, president of the European Council, who led the leaders summit. “We continue to be with you now and we will continue in the future.”
The split emphasizes a significant geopolitical shift created by Trump Russia. Zelenskyy who joined the EU After that, the leaders for lunch said: “It is very important that the Ukrainians are not alone. We feel and know it.”
Leaders, with the exception of Orban, called on Kiev and other European capitals to participate in any negotiations on the future Ukraine. Trump has opened bilateral peace talks with Russia not involved in Kiev and Brussels.
However, in the White House, the position of Ukraine is mitigated in recent days. On Thursday, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witcooff said the administration is negotiating to organize a meeting with the Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia to agree with the “peace agreement and the initial ceasefire”.
Pete HeGSET, the US Secretary of Defense, said the US was freezing on the supply of weapons of Kiev, “pausing, waiting for a true commitment to peace”, adding that the White House is “very encouraged by the signs we see.”
. The joint statement of the EU nods on increased military support to Ukraine and the readiness of the states “to contribute to the guarantee of security, based on the relevant competencies and opportunities” to the Postcard state.
Orban said Trump’s position for war means that the EU support in Ukraine should change.
“It does not matter what form we declare our support to Ukraine, we just do,” said one diplomat who participated in the negotiations. “At this particular stage it would be catastrophic.”
A separate statement, agreed by all 27 EU leaders, supported new defense financing initiatives proposed by the Commission. These include changes to the debt and rules of the block deficit to release the increase in defense costs, and the tool that would provide 150 billion euros with capital loans to spend on military capabilities.
Both ideas have received extensive political support, but the details of both should still be agreed before the approval of governments.
“Europe should become more sovereign, more responsible for its own protection and is better equipped to act and autonomously fight immediate and future problems and threats with an approach of 360 °,” the 27 leaders who did not refer to the US said.
A lean tool, focused on certain opportunities, including air protection and drone systems, will “be as flexible as possible as a few lines,” one EU official said to ensure rapid acceptance. This will use the existing NATO criteria to make sure they are properly spent, they added.
The structure allows the commission to bypass the EU Treaty for Direct military expenses, instead of increasing European Defense products. Part of this production can be used to weave Ukraine.
Additional Alice Hancock Report in Trov
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2025-03-06 23:27:00