At a meeting in Budapest, the leaders of the European Union considered the possibility of expanding defense aid to Ukraine if the newly elected US President Donald Trump decides to reduce American support to Kyiv.
The participants of the meeting discussed whether the EU will be able to provide financial and military support for the continued defense of Ukraine. According to the interlocutors of the agency, the key concern is the possibility that Trump will shift a significant part of the financial burden to Europe. However, despite possible changes in American policy, no clear statements have been made so far regarding radical changes in the EU's military strategy towards Ukraine.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloni expressed her position, saying that it is thanks to the courage of Ukrainians and the support of the West that we can talk about hope for peace. She emphasized the importance of maintaining aid and attention to the Ukrainian issue, especially in light of potential changes in American foreign policy. Some European officials believe that the main challenge for the EU is not so much in finances, but in providing the necessary amount of military resources, which until now came mostly from the USA.
Some of the leaders are in favor of waiting for Trump's inauguration in January and his official statements regarding his intentions to support Ukraine. Others stress that Europe does not have time to delay, and suggest that the European Commission should now develop a clear response plan to a possible change in American policy.
As it became known, Trump has already held the first round of phone conversations with European leaders, which may indicate his interest in coordinating future policies with the EU. It will also allow European leaders to better understand his position on the war in Ukraine.
