Europe is preparing on: Trump and Russia's threat in focus

Europe is preparing on: Trump and Russia's threat in focus

The European heads of state and government have Historical Emergency talks promised to upgrade the continent after the United States threatened, for 80 years of existing security guarantees based on the War in Ukraine to tipping.

radical changes in transatlantic relationships

Since taking office in January, US President Donald Trump has fundamentally changed transatlantic relations. He has All military aids and the intelligence agency with kiew And once again raised the question of whether the United States would defend its NATO allies in the event of an attack.

preparation for possible conflicts

In view of the threat of Russia, which was described by President Emmanuel Macron as a "existential threat" for Europe, the continent is now forced to go to the to prepare once impossible perspective , to defend yourself in a possible future conflict.

The Ukrainian President Vladimir Selenskyj was also welcomed at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels. Selenskyj announced that he would visit Saudi Arabia next week to present a first peace plan to be discussed before the conversations between Kiev and Washington.

billion -dollar defense spending

As part of an extraordinary meeting of the European Council, the EU leaders agreed on plans that could release the billions of euros in order to ensure the security of Europe, to increase defense spending and to strengthen support for Kiev.

The EU's executive presented the heads of state and government a proposal that could mobilize up to 800 billion euros ($ 862 billion) to strengthen defense on the continent. Part of the upgrade plan are loans of up to 150 billion euros ($ 162 billion) for the member states.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, described this as a “turning point” for Europe and announced that detailed legal proposals are checked before another meeting at the end of the month.

concern about Article 5 of the NATO contract

in a joint explanation of the NATO summit in Washington, D.C. Last year it was found that "Russia remains the most important and direct threat to NATO's security." In the eyes of his allies, however, Trump seems to ignore this central topic.

Trump suggested again that the USA may be able to give up, and argued that the member countries did not provide sufficiently for defense. "I think this is common sense. If you don't pay, I won't defend them," said Trump.

peace talks with European participation

While the European leaders expressed their support for Ukraine almost unanimously, Von der Leyen warned that peace negotiations would only be possible with the support of Europe. At the meeting in Brussels, all 27 EU leaders (except for one) signed a text that demanded a peace treaty that respects the "independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine" and incorporates Ukraine into negotiations.

The discussion about a one-month "air, sea and energy infrastructure" ceasefire in Ukraine, as suggested by Macron, could pave the way for a more permanent peace. However, this must be done carefully, he warned.

Selenskyj announced that he was preparing "practical suggestions" to terminate the war with the European heads of state and government. The first step would be that Russia stops its air raids on energy and civilian infrastructure and all military operations in the Black Sea.

Selenskyj will meet in Saudi Arabia with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman next week. His team will stay in the country to work with the American partners.

The British and the Turkish government, both NATO allied and important supporters of Ukraine-but no EU members-were not present at the summit. The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that he was ready to send combat troops to Ukraine in order to secure a ceasefire that may be agreed between Kiev and Moscow.

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, rejected the one-month ceasefire proposal and explained that the idea of using European peace forces in Ukraine would be "unacceptable".

In the meantime, China's special envoy for European affairs, Lu Shaye, expressed hope that Europe could be stimulated by the "aggressive and dominant policies of Trump administration towards Europe" to "at least think about some of their former policies towards China."