Brussels – While all EU leaders backed conclusions on strengthening European defense, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán refused to sign a joint statement on the bloc's continued support for Ukraine at the crucial summit in Brussels.
As a result, the statement on Ukraine was adopted by the remaining 26 member states. However, all leaders agreed on a collective defense strategy, which aligns with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s recently unveiled five-point initiative to bolster the continent’s military capabilities.
The extraordinary summit was initially convened in response to US-Russia negotiations on Ukraine’s future. It was meant to showcase the EU's commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s defense in the short term while ensuring Europe's strategic autonomy in the long run.
Following discussions with EU leaders and NATO Secretary-General on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian and American officials will meet in Saudi Arabia next week. This development signals a possible détente after tensions escalated due to last week’s Oval Office clash between Zelenskyy and Donald Trump.
euronews
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