Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed the EU decision to increase defence spending that was announced on the 6th of March at an emergency summit in Brussels. In a move to boost the continent’s military forces, the package includes loans and weakened deficit rules.
With an increase in Russian aggression in Ukraine, including recent missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, there has been a sense of urgency among European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that “the only imperial power that I see today in Europe is Russia”, calling Vladimir Putin “an imperialist who seeks to rewrite history” after the Russian president appeared to compare himself to Napoleon Bonaparte.
This also comes as the UK and EU attempt to rally support for Ukraine after President Donald Trump stopped US military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine. Since the beginning of his second term in the White House, Trump has shifted American foreign policy towards a more isolationist “America first” approach, with Trump suggesting, since his campaign trail, that the US will not defend NATO allies who do not meet defence spending commitments.
Since then, NATO members, especially the UK and France, have been concerned about the reliability of their traditional security ally, and there have been many calls from European leaders to step up. The UK and France have said they are willing to provide peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, urging other European countries to do the same.
However, Keir Starmer has also said that in order to be effective, their presence in Ukraine must be backed by US security guarantees. So far, Donald Trump has avoided committing to such support, instead claiming that the presence of American workers in Ukraine as part of a potential minerals deal would be sufficient as a deterrent against Russia. Russia has rejected the move outright, saying it would amount to “direct, official, and unveiled involvement of NATO members in the war against Russia”.
Starmer has also been trying to persuade European countries to join a “coalition of the willing” to deter Russia in the event of a peace deal in Ukraine. According to UK officials, around twenty countries are interested in joining the coalition, though not all would necessarily offer to send troops and would provide other forms of support instead.
At the emergency summit in Brussels, EU leaders backed an €800 billion plan which encompasses several elements, including a €150 billion loan scheme secured against unused funds in the EU budget aimed at providing immediate resources for defence enhancements. There will also be a boost for the defence industry and an improvement of military capabilities, as well as investments in research and development of defence solutions and cybersecurity infrastructure.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who presented the €800 billion plan, called it “a watershed moment for Europe” and also for Ukraine. She told reporters that if Trump wanted “peace through strength”, this would only be possible with the EU and its member states “because preconditions have to be met”. Citing EU economic and military aid, and support for the continuity of Ukraine’s energy system, she said there were “many examples that show how important the support of Europe is to come to a positive end”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was initially scheduled to join the summit by video link but arrived in person, said: “We are thankful that we are not alone.” Zelenskyy has said on social media that he plans to visit Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ahead of further US–Ukraine talks. “After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners”, he wrote. “Ukraine is most interested in peace. As we told POTUS (President of the United States), Ukraine is working and will continue to work constructively for a swift and reliable peace.”
In a call with von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, alongside the leaders of Canada, Turkey, Norway, and Iceland, Starmer was briefed on the plans. Afterwards, Downing Street said the prime minister “applauded the progress”, calling the move “historic” and “another sign of Europe stepping up”. According to a No. 10 spokesperson, Starmer also noted plans for the coalition of the willing and stated that an upcoming meeting in Paris would be an “important moment to drive forward planning”.