Europe is rearming before the negotiations between Ukraine and the United States. What the media is writing
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- Europe is rearming before the negotiations between Ukraine and the United States. What the media is writing
The EU countries have agreed to increase defense spending. The decision was made amid concerns that the United States would end military support for Europe and not protect it from future threats. European leaders also expressed support for Ukraine ahead of its negotiations with the United States. What the world's media write is in the Izvestia digest.
The Guardian: EU leaders agree on plan to increase defense spending
At emergency talks in Brussels, European leaders agreed on a significant increase in defense spending amid increased efforts to support Ukraine. The European Commission said its plan is estimated at 800 billion euros. It includes a €150 billion loan scheme secured by unused funds in the EU budget, as well as significant flexibility in EU fiscal rules that could free up €650 billion in new spending.
The Guardian
Member states will still have to agree to a €150 billion lending scheme, while it is unclear whether governments will take full advantage of the €650 billion financial freedom offered by the commission. EU countries could use part of the money to finance military aid to Ukraine.
All countries are under increasing pressure to increase national defense budgets, especially the seven EU and NATO members, including Spain and Italy, which are below the 2% target set more than a decade ago. Belgium's new prime Minister Bart De Wever has said his country is an "extremely bad student" and "gets the slap in the face we deserve."
Bloomberg: Hungary rejects statement of support for Ukraine
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the EU's friendliest leader towards Russia and a long-time thorn in the side of the bloc, refused to sign the final decisions of the summit, which stated Kiev's continued support and outlined the conditions for achieving a peaceful settlement. The other 26 EU leaders ignored his refusal.
Bloomberg
The 27-member bloc is rushing to mobilize hundreds of billions of euros in defense funds and create a new security architecture to defend against Russia as the United States reduces its defensive role on the continent. However, Orban has the right to veto many of the most ambitious measures that the EU is trying to push through at breakneck speed, as well as various efforts aimed at helping Ukraine or punishing Russia.
After Orban refused to endorse the conclusions on Ukraine, the bloc issued a separate statement, supported by 26 other countries, promising to continue providing assistance to Ukraine and offering assistance in providing security guarantees as part of peace negotiations.
The Washington Post: Europe is scared of the United States and Russia
EU leaders have generally agreed to move forward with plans aimed at unlocking hundreds of billions of euros in additional defense spending in the coming years, but military spending will not be easy. Germany is beginning a major shift away from borrowing-limiting controls, and France is considering expanding its nuclear deterrent to include its European allies.
The Washington Post
Along with the <military operation> Russia's actions in Ukraine, the sudden redrawing of alliances by US President Donald Trump and the cessation of support for Kiev are forcing the Europeans to accelerate plans to strengthen their armies, modernize their arsenals and, ultimately, reduce their dependence on the United States.
The bloc of 27 countries, in which the need for consensus can slow down decision-making, is moving faster than usual. However, he is playing catch-up with a more militarized and confrontational world, without being himself created to counter Trump's decisions. The attempt to provide Ukraine with a separate, new package of military assistance has proved more difficult in the corridors of the EU, although diplomats said they would continue to work to mobilize billions of euros in money and equipment.
Financial Times: Europe rallies around Kiev ahead of Ukrainian-American talks
EU leaders rallied around Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and promised to increase their defense capabilities at the summit, which was supposed to be a response to the hostile attitude of the administration of US President Donald Trump. The promise of "continued" support from all but one of the bloc's leaders came ahead of talks between Washington and Kiev on ending the conflict, which are scheduled for next week.
Financial Times
Trump's special envoy, Steve Whitoff, said the meeting would discuss the framework for a "peace agreement and an initial cease-fire." Zelensky also confirmed that he will arrive in Saudi Arabia next Monday for a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which will be followed by talks between Ukrainian and U.S. officials next week.
The talks will focus on the minerals deal that the United States wants to conclude with Ukraine, as well as a possible cease-fire. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that Washington's suspension of arms supplies to Kiev was "a pause in anticipation of a true desire for peace," adding that the White House was "very encouraged by the signs we have observed" of such intentions.
The Wall Street Journal: Ukraine's allies are divided on the use of frozen assets of the Russian Federation
Any of the countries that froze Russia's assets could have decided to withdraw the money and transfer it to Ukraine unilaterally, but they did not want to do this, fearing that it would damage the reputation of their financial centers and provoke the risk of leakage of foreign funds.
The Wall Street Journal
In the EU, some countries, including Poland and the Baltic states, insisted on the confiscation of funds, but the bloc's largest powers — Germany, France and Italy — opposed such a move, as did the European Central Bank. They fear that the confiscation of funds could set a dangerous precedent for other actors to immobilize Western funds and embezzle them.
They also worry that the confiscation of cash could undermine confidence in euro assets and the euro currency. Germany, in particular, fears that the confiscation of Russian assets could strengthen the reparations claims it still has from World War II. The G7 countries have said they will include frozen Russian funds in peace talks, demanding that Moscow agree to use the money to help pay for economic recovery in Ukraine.
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