European leaders are bracing themselves for a new era of uncertainty after President Trump’s return to office. In a meeting at the Oval Office, Mr. Trump’s criticism of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has raised doubts and fears among European officials. As a result, they are considering accelerating their efforts to increase their defense spending and to develop more concrete plans to reduce their reliance on the US.

Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his shock over the incident, which has highlighted the risks of relying on US support for Ukraine. The US has provided billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine, but it is still unclear how reliable that support will remain. Europe needs to bridge the gap in military spending and capabilities to ensure their own security in the face of the growing threat from Russia.

European countries have been discussing how to guarantee security for Ukraine if a peace deal is reached. A special summit of the European Council will take place in Brussels next week, where defense and security guarantees for Ukraine will be debated. However, there may be differences in opinion and funding among the 27 member countries.

France’ President Emmanuel Macron called for a “surge” in European defense spending. The E.U.’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, argued that Europe must take on new leadership when it comes to defense. However, increasing military spending in European countries is proving to be a challenge. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also expressed his opposition to the aid package for Ukraine. Despite the difficulties, European leaders remain committed to finding a way forward.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/02/world/europe/ukraine-trump.html