Leaders of the European Union convene in Brussels for a crisis defense summit as the prospects of a future partnership with the US remain uncertain.
Macron questioned in a televised address on Wednesday night, “Can anyone believe that today’s Russia will stop at Ukraine?”
All 27 EU leaders will convene for the defense summit on Thursday for the first time since the explosive meeting in President Donald Trump’s Oval Office with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week. Post this meeting, Trump mellowed his tone towards Zelenskyy following the latter’s willingness to sign a contentious deal on minerals with the US. However, Zelenskyy’s push for the US to offer security guarantees in exchange for the deal enraged Trump.
The US has already declared Ukraine’s entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as “unrealistic” and threatened to pull American troops from Europe, urging European allies to increase their defense spending.
Trump has reached out to Russian President Vladimir Putin without consulting his European allies in his bid to cease the Ukraine war. In his statements, he has blamed Ukraine for the conflict, which was sparked by Moscow’s 2022 invasion.
Since then, Washington has ceased military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, crucial for Kyiv’s defense against Russia.
Trump’s Ukraine Policy
The shift in Ukraine policy has left US allies in a scramble, with EU leaders openly questioning Washington’s reliability as a security partner. They also worry that Kyiv and Europe’s interests might be disregarded in any agreement to end the largest conflict on the continent post World War II.
Macron warned that Europe must prepare to face Russian aggression alone. “I hope that the US will stay by our side,” said Macron. “But we need to be ready if they do not.”
“Europe’s future need not be decided in Washington or Moscow,” he added.
Macron also plans to discuss with his European counterparts extending French nuclear deterrence to other countries on the continent. However, the control and decision would remain with the French president.
Both British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other European leaders have backed Zelenskyy and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine after the White House incident.
‘Europe’s very survival at stake’
At the Brussels meeting, EU leaders will assess the implications of Trump’s unpredictable and transactional approach to foreign policy. Zelenskyy will also attend the summit.
Although the Brussels meeting aims to solidify European support for Kyiv, significant new aid beyond the 30 billion euros ($32.4 billion) already committed this year by the bloc is unlikely to be announced. The leaders are also expected to discuss the European Commission’s proposal to borrow up to 150 billion euros ($162 billion) to lend to member states under a rearmament plan.
President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission on Tuesday revealed a plan to “re-arm Europe” and take responsibility for the continent’s defense, amounting to 800 billion euros ($863 billion).
There is a genuine concern that the US could walk away, leaving Europe exposed to Russian aggression or other threats. The sentiment here is that Europe’s very survival and future could be at stake,” Natacha Butler of Al Jazeera reported from Brussels.
She pointed out that the leaders will discuss “how to arm Europe, how to make sure that Europe could become sovereign in terms of defense, to increase defense spending across the European Union and military coordination.”
A peace plan proposed by France and the United Kingdom will also be debated. “We know that the plan involves sending European peacekeepers to ensure any potential ceasefire in Ukraine in the future,” she said.
The topic of Macron’s nuclear deterrent has not been seriously debated yet, but “it reflects the sense of urgency felt here in Europe in terms of its own security,” said the Al Jazeera correspondent.
