EU leaders fear that the post-World War II security architecture could “crumble any day” without US support, Politico magazine reported on Wednesday, citing European officials familiar with the mood ahead of a crucial summit in Brussels.
The sense of uncertainty and pessimism among Ukraine’s backers in Europe has only grown since US President Donald Trump reportedly halted all weapons deliveries to Kiev on Monday.
“Defense spending is becoming a fixed cost,” a European diplomat told Politico. “We have switched off the sun and now we need to pay everyday for the heating… Every day you need to pay for ammunition, at least for several years, until Trump is dead.”
Top officials in the EU, Britain, and Ukraine previously expressed frustration after Trump launched direct talks with Russia and publicly berated Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, whom he called “a dictator.”
According to Politico, some officials from EU member states worry that the bloc’s response to Trump “could go horribly wrong.” The diplomats also reportedly have concerns that “a pro-Russia group” of leaders led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is capable of “derailing” the support for Ukraine.
Orban, as well as Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, have urged Brussels to drop unconditional military aid to Ukraine in favor of finding a diplomatic solution. According to Politico, Hungary has opposed the inclusion of a pledge to ensure further arms deliveries to Ukraine in the final statement from the upcoming summit of EU leaders.
The EU will discuss further steps to back Ukraine and boost the bloc’s own defenses during a high-profile meeting in Brussels on Thursday. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has unveiled a plan to invest €800 billion ($863 billion) in the member state’s military capabilities.
While Russia has welcomed the resumption of direct negotiations with the US, it stressed that no amount of Western aid would stop its troops.
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