EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of a “turning point” for the security of Europe and Ukraine. The situation was dangerous, said von der Leyen during a performance with Selenskyj and Council President António Costa before the start of the summit. Selenskyj demonstratively thanked the Europeans for their support and emphasized that the people in Ukraine were “not alone”. US President Donald Trump had accused Selenskyj in the White House in a lack of gratitude and no will to peace in the White House last week.
Against this background, the Leyen emphasized that Europe had to be able to “protect itself, to defend itself, as we have to put Ukraine into a position to protect itself and fight for a permanent and just peace”. It has therefore submitted a recovery plan to the heads of state and government. The head of the commission thus wants to mobilize up to 800 billion euros.
Europe has to “set the arms armed” and win it, “said Tusk, whose country held the EU Council Chairmanship in this half year. He welcomed the considerations of French President Emmanuel Macron to expand the nuclear deterrent to France to European partners. “It must be one of our priorities to coordinate all of our capacities in Europe and actually build a single, well -coordinated military power,” said Tusk.
Von der Leyen proposed “a new EU financing instrument” to support the member countries in the armament. It is said to include loans of 150 billion euros that are secured by the EU budget. She also spoke out for loosening the European debt rules by means of a national exceptional clause for four years.
Chancellor Scholz wants to go even further. He spoke out for “a long -term adjustment of the set of rules” so that the countries “have scope for their long -term investments in defense and security”. He received support from the Baltic States, among other things, “economical” countries such as the Netherlands and Sweden are skeptical, according to diplomats and warn debt rules of a new financial crisis.
The German advance reflects at the European level, which the possible coalition partners CDU/CSU and SPD under CDU boss Friedrich Merz also strive nationally. In the exploratory talks, they had agreed to largely exclude defense spending from the debt brake.
EU parliamentary phrase Roberta Metsola called the armament of Europe overdue. After years of unsuccessful discussions, it was “damn time,” said the Christian Democrat from Malta. At the start of the summit, the EU tips came together with Metsola as usual.
EU foreign commissioner Kaja Kallas criticized the freezing of US military aid for Kiev by President Donald Trump. She called this a “dangerous game with the future of Ukraine”. Chancellor Scholz warned with a view to the United States to keep a “cool and clear head” when dealing with President Trump. “We have to make sure that Ukraine is further supported,” he said.
Scholz again warned of a “dictation peace” in Ukraine. From his point of view, a “fair, fair, fair peace” also “a strong Ukrainian army” also in peace “. However, he welcomed the advance from France and Great Britain for a preliminary ceasefire in Ukraine, the attacks from the air, at sea and on the energy infrastructure.
