Europe sends message to both Russia and Ukraine

Leaders of European Union (EU) members announced on March 6 that they would support Ukraine and spend more on defense, according to Reuters.

"Europe must accept this challenge, this arms race. And it must win," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said as he arrived at the EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, on March 6. "Europe is really capable of winning any military, financial, economic confrontation with Russia - we are stronger," Tusk stressed.

Many EU leaders welcomed proposals from the European Commission this week to give them financial flexibility over defense spending and jointly borrow up to 150 billion euros ($160 billion) to lend to EU governments for defense spending.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (center), European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speak to the media in Brussels, Belgium, on March 6.

"We are here to protect Ukraine," said the meeting's chair, European Council President Antonio Costa, as he and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warmly welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Arriving at the EU summit on March 6, Ms. von der Leyen wrote on the social network X that Europe is “facing a clear and present danger” and stressed the importance of the summit in boosting European defense spending. “We must be able to defend ourselves and put Ukraine in a strong position,” Ms. von der Leyen wrote.

But decades of dependence on US protection, financial differences and how France uses its nuclear deterrent for Europe have shown how difficult it will be for the EU to fill the void left by Washington after it froze military aid to Ukraine, according to Reuters.

According to NATO, Washington provided more than 40% of Ukraine’s military aid last year, some of which Europe cannot easily replace. Some EU leaders remain hopeful that Washington can be persuaded to return, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated on March 6 his commitment to open a debate on extending France's nuclear umbrella to other European countries, but stressed that the final decision on the use of nuclear weapons would remain in the hands of the country's president, according to Sky News. "I want to believe that the United States will remain on our side. But we must also be ready if the United States is no longer with us."

Macron’s pledge has received mixed reactions. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that “such a nuclear umbrella would serve as a serious deterrent to Russia.” Poland said the idea was worth discussing, while others, such as Germany, stressed the need to keep the US involved.

US President Donald Trump has said Europe must take more responsibility for its own security and the US will not defend a NATO ally that does not spend enough on defence.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lanh-dao-chau-au-gui-thong-diep-toi-nga-lan-ukraine-185250306220350624.htm