At EU defence meet, Macron offers nuclear deterrence against Russia
Facing the prospect that the United States might cut them adrift under President Donald Trump, European Union leaders launched a day of emergency talks Thursday in a bid to beef up their own security and ensure that Ukraine will still be properly protected.
Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor of Germany, and summit chairman Antonio Costa discussed in Brussels ways to fortify Europe’s defences on a short deadline.
Merz pushed plans this week to loosen the nation’s rules on running up debt to allow for higher defence spending.
Meanwhile, the 27-nation bloc was waking up to news that French President Emmanuel Macron would confer with EU leaders about the possibility of using France’s nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats.
“Given these profound shifts in US policy, and the existential threat of another war on the continent, Europe must manage its essential defence tasks,” the European Policy Center think tank said in a commentary.
“Member states will be able to increase their military spending” and “massive joint funding will be provided to buy and produce some of the most innovative munitions, tanks, weapons and equipment in Europe,” Macron said.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is taking part in the summit.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is set to present an €$800 billion initiative aimed at enhancing European defence expenditures. She described this development as “a watershed moment for Europe” as well as for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, British officials held talks with around 20 countries, mostly European and Commonwealth parties, interested in contributing to a so-called 'coalition of the willing' to support Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would consider the deployment of European peacekeepers to Ukraine.
France to provide Kyiv military intel
France is providing military intelligence to Ukraine after Washington announced it was freezing the sharing of information with Kyiv. French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said, “We have intelligence that we allow Ukraine to benefit from.” He added French President Emmanuel Macron asked him to “accelerate the various French aid packages” to make up for the lack of American assistance.
