EU leaders – apart from Hungary’s Viktor Orbán – say they are ready to increase pressure on Russia through further sanctions, as summit talks exposed a geographical divide on rearming Europe.
Meeting in Brussels, the bloc agreed it was ready to levy further sanctions on Russia and strengthen existing measures after talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who joined by video link.
The show of unity was marred by Orbán refusing to support an EU text declaring support for Ukraine, which stated: “The European Council calls on Russia to show real political will to end the war.” The Hungarian prime minister similarly declined to support the EU position two weeks ago.
Orbán’s growing confidence in diverging from the EU on Ukraine raises questions about the bloc’s ability to impose new sanctions and renew existing ones, although diplomats take comfort from the fact Hungary has always acceded to the plans in the end.
Zelenskyy told the EU leaders: “Please do not ease pressure on Russia over the war. Sanctions must remain in place until Russia starts withdrawing from our land and fully compensates for the damage caused by its aggression.”
In a clear reference to Hungary’s efforts to stymie Ukraine’s EU accession talks, Zelenskyy added, without naming any country: “It is simply anti-European when one person blocks decisions that are important for the entire continent or that have already been agreed upon.”
Separately the Financial Times reported that Europe’s biggest military powers are discussing how to take on greater responsibility for Europe’s defence. Countries including the UK, France and Germany aim to present Donald Trump with a plan to shift the financial and military burden to European capitals, in the hope of a managed transfer over five to 10 years, the paper reported.
Leaving the summit, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, praised the “Buy European” policy as a major doctrine change in Europe that would make the continent more independent. In a victory for Paris, the European Commission has proposed that a €150bn (£125bn) loans rearmament programme should exclude countries without a defence pact with the EU, such as the UK and the US.
Macron also said he would host a meeting of European leaders with Zelenskyy in Paris next Thursday to discuss Ukraine’s defence, including immediate military aid, making any ceasefire work and possibly deployment of troops.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said it was of the utmost importance to develop the defence industrial base in Europe, adding that “associated countries” could be involved. “These are billions and billions of euros that we will spend and we want a return on investment,” she said. “And where they are spent, they will produce good jobs.”
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