EU Summit Agrees on Defense Buildup but Splits on Ukraine Support as Hungary Blocks Joint Statement

The European Union reached a landmark agreement on military buildup while failing to achieve consensus on Ukraine support during a critical summit in Brussels on March 6, 2025.

According to diplomatic sources [1][2], the 27 EU member states agreed to significantly increase their defense spending, marking a major shift in European security policy. However, Hungary refused to join the other 26 nations in supporting a joint statement on Ukraine assistance.

The summit comes amid growing concerns about European security following recent tensions with the U.S. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented an ambitious €800 billion defense reinforcement plan [1][3], aimed at strengthening European military capabilities.

'This is a decisive moment for Europe,' von der Leyen stated [4]. 'Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe must be able to protect itself.'

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed skepticism about French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to extend France's nuclear deterrent to the EU [1]. Scholz emphasized maintaining the existing NATO nuclear framework based on U.S. capabilities.

In a significant development, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that Germany and Britain would jointly lead a new Ukraine contact group [2], stepping up to coordinate military aid following uncertainty about U.S. support.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who attended the summit, met with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever before joining the main discussions [3]. The meetings occurred against the backdrop of strained U.S.-Ukraine relations and paused American military assistance.