Europe Backs Zelensky And Approves €800 Billion Defence Plan As Malta Joins Unanimous Vote
European leaders have rallied behind Ukraine and approved a historic €800 billion defence plan, as concerns grow over Russia’s military ambitions and the US shifting its stance on the war.
The plan, which was unanimously backed by all EU states, including Malta, aims to strengthen Europe’s military capabilities amid Donald Trump’s freeze on US military aid to Kyiv.
However, Prime Minister Robert Abela had previously voiced reservations about increasing military funding, arguing that sending more weapons did not work and warning it could further escalate tensions.
While Abela confirmed Malta would not participate in spending money on weapons, he acknowledged that Europe must find ways to support Ukraine without blindly pushing for military victory at all costs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to Brussels for the summit, just a week after a heated fallout with Trump, which led to Washington cutting off intelligence sharing and military assistance to Ukraine.
Seeking to repair ties, US and Ukrainian officials are now reportedly in talks for a potential ceasefire deal with Russia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the defence agreement a “watershed moment”, stressing that Europe must be prepared to defend itself.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron pushed for a European nuclear deterrent strategy, a move that some EU nations have cautiously welcomed.
Despite Europe’s show of support for Zelensky, the summit did not result in any major new aid packages for Ukraine, aside from the already committed €30 billion in EU funding for 2025.
Photo via Ludovic MARIN / AFP.
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