EU leaders are meeting in Brussels for a special summit to discuss proposals to mobilize up to €800 billion for Europe’s rearmament and to offer "immediate" military support to Ukraine following Washington's aid suspension.
Ahead of the summit, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen unveiled ReArm, a sweeping EU defense initiative aimed at drastically increasing military spending and strengthening European security, including enhanced support for Ukraine.
The move came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the aid freeze, intensifying Washington’s push for a peace deal with Russia and confirming its pivot away from Kyiv and its European allies.
Key to the proposals are steps to spur on defense investments by the EU’s 27 member states by easing the bloc's strict budget rules, as well as a new €150bn loan facility.
