Brussels, March – European Union leaders have agreed to increase defence spending and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine as concerns over Russia and the U.S. policy shift under Donald Trump grow.

During a special summit in Brussels, leaders backed the European Commission’s proposal to provide financial flexibility for defence investments, including a joint borrowing initiative of up to €150 billion ($160 billion) for military spending.

“We are building the Europe of defence and standing with Ukraine shoulder to shoulder,” said Antonio Costa, chair of the meeting.

The summit also saw Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed with strong support, despite Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a Trump ally, distancing himself from the joint statement. The 26 other EU leaders emphasized that any negotiations regarding Ukraine must include Ukraine itself.

French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the need for Europe to develop autonomous defence capacities, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the importance of maintaining U.S. support despite uncertainties.

The discussion also touched on the possibility of extending France’s nuclear deterrence to protect Europe, with mixed reactions from EU leaders.

As the U.S. freezes military aid to Ukraine, EU nations, including Norway and Germany, have pledged to increase their defence budgets, signaling a shift towards greater European self-reliance in security matters.