EU Leaders Agree on Military Budget Increase at Brussels Meeting

On Thursday, March 7, EU leaders in Brussels supported plans to increase military budgets and continue aid to Ukraine. However, Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, refrained from endorsing part of the Brussels statement in favor of Ukraine. According to the Associated Press, the 27 leaders of EU member states agreed to reduce budgetary constraints to increase their military spending. The Brussels statement also indicated that they asked the European Commission to explore new ways to achieve this. The European Commission, as the executive branch of the EU, estimates that around €650 billion ($702 billion) could be freed up through this measure. Meanwhile, Pedro Sanchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, announced that his country would increase its defense spending to meet NATO's target sooner than previously committed. Spain, as the fourth-largest economy in the Eurozone, ranked last among NATO members last year in terms of GDP share allocated to military spending, at 1.28%. NATO members committed in 2014 to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense, a target that was expected to be met by 23 countries last year amid concerns about the war in Ukraine. Spain had previously stated it would reach this goal by 2029. In parallel, Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, announced that negotiations would take place in Paris starting Tuesday, March 12, regarding the potential deployment of European forces in Ukraine following the signing of a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. He stated that these negotiations would cover a wide range of options and would involve the chiefs of staff of European armies willing to participate. Macron emphasized that EU-led forces in Ukraine would not fight on the front lines but would ensure that any potential peace agreement is fully respected. Previously, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, criticized the plan to send European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine, stating that Moscow views such a presence as equivalent to NATO forces in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that U.S. and Ukrainian delegations have resumed their cooperation and that he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday, March 11. The Ukrainian President did not provide details on this cooperation but added that his team would continue discussions with U.S. officials about ending the war between Ukraine and Russia. Earlier, Michael Waltz, the U.S. National Security Advisor, stated that they had taken a step back to pause and review all aspects of this relationship. Waltz mentioned that he had a good discussion with his Ukrainian counterpart regarding the selection of the negotiation venue and its agenda. He referenced Zelensky's message on Tuesday, March 5, indicating that the country is united under the strong leadership of Donald Trump to move towards peace. Zelensky also stated that Ukraine has the greatest interest in peace, saying, 'As we told President Trump, Ukraine is working and will work for a quick and reliable peace.' In this context, J.D. Vance, the U.S. Vice President, stated on Wednesday to Voice of America that Trump's policy is to end the Russia-Ukraine war, which would benefit Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. He had previously emphasized in an interview with Fox News that the only issue that benefits the U.S., Ukraine, Europe, and also Russia is the end of this war. The special EU summit in Brussels and negotiations over support for Ukraine were seen as a barrier to peace by Russia, while Germany stated that support for Ukraine must continue. The EU reiterated that the Iranian government should not acquire nuclear weapons, and Trump remarked that Europe has spent more on purchasing Russian energy than on defending Ukraine, while all U.S. military aid to Ukraine has been suspended.