Fri Mar 07 08:51:57 UTC 2025: ## Europe Steps Up Defence Spending After Trump Halts Ukraine Aid
**Brussels** – European leaders have pledged to significantly increase defence spending and bolster support for Ukraine following US President Donald Trump’s suspension of military aid to the war-torn nation. The move, announced at a European Union defence summit in Brussels, reflects growing anxieties about Russia’s potential aggression and a diminished reliance on US military support.
The European Commission unveiled an ambitious €800 billion (£670 billion) plan to boost European defence capabilities over the coming years. This includes a proposal to borrow up to $160 billion to rapidly expand armed forces. While some of this funding could be directed towards further military assistance for Ukraine, EU diplomats acknowledge that it won’t entirely replace the significant US aid previously provided, which accounted for 30% of Ukraine’s military needs. This aid included long-range weaponry, tanks, and air defence systems.
The summit followed Trump’s decision to halt not only military equipment but also intelligence support and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, amid pressure to force a peace deal with Russia. This has spurred fears that Russia, emboldened by the US withdrawal, might target EU member states next.
European Council President António Costa declared the summit a “watershed moment,” highlighting the EU’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and developing its own defence capabilities. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk echoed this sentiment, asserting that Europe must win the “arms race” and is capable of confronting Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the need for Europe to build independent self-defence capabilities irrespective of the situation in Ukraine.
The EU’s increased defence spending represents a shift away from dependence on the US and NATO, underscoring a new era of European security strategy. However, the significant gap left by the US withdrawal remains a major challenge.
First Piper 