The EU is urging member states to ramp up arms production – including air defence, missiles, and at least 1.5 million artillery shells – as European leaders contend with Washington's shifting stance on Ukraine.
Europe is rallying behind Kyiv after US President Donald Trump stunned allies by opening direct peace talks with Russia over the Kremlin’s three-year war.
In response, European leaders gathered in Paris on Monday to discuss strategies to strengthen Ukraine’s position and ensure any Trump-brokered deal does not undermine their security.
An EU diplomatic proposal seen by French news agency AFP outlines plans to "accelerate and focus efforts to meet Ukraine’s most pressing short-term needs".
It calls for swift delivery of military aid in 2025 but stopped short of specifying exact figures.
The plan includes "large-calibre artillery ammunition, with a minimum objective of 1.5 million rounds," as well as "air defence systems, [deep precision strike] missiles and drones".
Each EU nation would be assigned a financial quota based on gross national income, with further discussions set for Tuesday in Brussels.
Brussels aims to send a resounding message of support to Kyiv as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen prepares to visit Ukraine next week for the third anniversary of Moscow’s invasion.
As Trump pushes for a swift resolution to the conflict, Washington expects Europe to bear the "overwhelming share" of Ukraine’s aid.
This shift has accelerated discussions on European self-reliance in defence.
Macron gathers European leaders to counter US moves on Ukraine war
UK with EU on security needs
This comes as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday that the UK is willing to deploy troops to Ukraine if needed.
"We must ensure that European security is maintained at all costs," Starmer stated, adding that Britain was prepared to place "our own troops on the ground if necessary" to support Ukraine.
His stance reflects growing European determination to stand firm against Russia's aggression, even as US support becomes uncertain.
Spain's response, however, has been more cautious, with Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares saying it was "too early" to discuss troop deployment, emphasising that "there is no peace at the moment, and the effort has to be to achieve it as soon as possible".
European fears mount at Munich conference as US signals shift on Ukraine
For decades, Europe has relied heavily on NATO and US military might, but with America’s commitment wavering, the EU must take greater responsibility for its defence.
President Macron has long championed a more autonomous European defence strategy, urging greater investment and coordination.
Germany has also pledged to boost military spending, though progress has been slow.
How far the rest of Europe is willing to go remains to be seen.
(With newswires)
