The European Union’s leaders will discuss plans to mobilize hundreds of billions of euros to boost the military readiness of the bloc to fend off Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to address European leaders at a major European Union summit, focusing on providing further support for Kyiv in the war with Russia.
The bloc’s 27 leaders are meeting on March 20 to tackle support for Ukraine, defense spending, competitiveness, and migration.
All leaders, except Hungary’s Viktor Orban, are expected to agree to a text that commits to uphold Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and urges Russia to “show real political will to end the war.”
Zelenskyy arrived in Norway on Thursday for an official visit following a trip to Finland, the Norwegian government said in a statement. He will address the leaders via video link.
The European Commission believes that Russia may attack an EU country next and that the bloc cannot solely rely on the United States for defense.
Under U.S. President Donald Trump, the United States has shifted its military focus toward deterring aggression in the Indo–Pacific by communist China. The Trump administration has also demanded that Europe take more responsibility for its own defense.
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On March 18, European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said Russia is preparing itself for a confrontation with “European democracies.”
“[Russia] has massively expanded its military-industrial production capacity. … This investment fuels its war of aggression in Ukraine while preparing it for future confrontation with European democracies,” she said, speaking at the Royal Danish Military Academy in Copenhagen.
Thursday’s summit takes place two days after a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, which resulted in Putin agreeing to a limited cease-fire on energy infrastructure.
Zelenskyy then agreed to a moratorium on attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure following a March 19 phone call with Trump.
However, in a March 20 post on social media platform X, Zelenskyy said that “Russian strikes on Ukraine do not stop, despite their propaganda claims.”
“Every day and every night, nearly a hundred or more drones are launched, along with ongoing missile attacks. With each such launch, the Russians expose to the world their true attitude towards peace,” he said.
Readiness 2030
EU leaders will also debate European Commission proposals announced on Wednesday to mobilize hundreds of billions of euros to boost the military readiness of the bloc.
The EU blueprint claims the measures are needed to deflect Russia’s war threats amid concerns over reliance on European security on the United States.
Its “Readiness 2030” security strategy means the region’s 27 national governments will get a four-year reprieve from EU deficit caps that will allow them to spend more on defense.
The EU expects this to generate more than 800 billion euros ($869 billion) for defense spending.
It also has plans to provide 150 billion euros ($163 billion) in loans to member states for defense investment.
The proposal has also redefined what is classified as government defense spending.
According to a Reuters analysis, prior defense spending rules only allowed EU governments to apply it to already-delivered hardware such as tanks, planes, and guns.
The change now broadens the category to include stronger roads and bridges to support the passage of tanks and the production of drones, helicopters, satellites, radars, and underground shelters.
Under the new strategy, member countries will also be urged to buy much of their military equipment in Europe, working mostly with European suppliers.
At least 65 percent of the total cost of the equipment bought with the loans will have to be for parts originating in the EU, European Economic Area, European Free Trade Association, or Ukraine.
The “Joint White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030” reads: “If Russia is allowed to achieve its goals in Ukraine, its territorial ambition will extend beyond. Russia will remain a fundamental threat to Europe’s security for the foreseeable future, including its more aggressive nuclear posture and the positioning of nuclear weapons in Belarus.”
The plan also envisages more support for Ukraine, such as providing the country with a minimum objective of 2 million rounds of “large calibre artillery ammunition” per year, as well as more air defense systems, missiles, and drones.
It also foresees continuing to train tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops annually.
Reuters, The Associated Press, Emel Akan, and Ryan Morgan contributed to this report.
