European Union leaders will convene on Thursday for a special European Council summit focused on European defense and continued support for Ukraine.
In a statement on Wednesday, the European Council said that leaders will assess how the EU can further assist Ukraine and establish principles for future actions. Discussions will also cover European contributions to security guarantees aimed at ensuring lasting peace in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been invited to participate in the meeting.
The summit follows a February 3 gathering in Brussels, where leaders explored ways to enhance European defense through collective capabilities, financing, and strategic partnerships. The urgency has increased as U.S. President Donald Trump has engaged in direct negotiations with Russia while suspending military aid to Kyiv. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a plan to mobilize €800 billion ($844 billion) for European defense, a topic likely to be discussed at the summit.
