At a summit meeting in Brussels, European Union leaders deliberated on urgent measures to provide more weapons to Ukraine’s besieged forces while bolstering Europe’s defense industry. With Kyiv’s troops facing significant challenges in fending off the Russian army and Western ammunition deliveries facing hurdles, the EU is under pressure to expedite support for Ukraine. One proposal discussed involves utilizing profits from frozen Russian central bank assets to procure weapons for Ukraine, potentially unlocking billions of euros annually.
However, concerns about legal ramifications and potential retaliation from the Kremlin loom large. Concurrently, the EU is striving to enhance its defence industry to meet the demands of arming Ukraine and fortifying its military capabilities. While various initiatives and proposals have been put forth, disagreements among member states persist, hindering swift action. Despite the focus on the conflict in Ukraine, EU leaders also grapple with finding a unified stance on the situation in Gaza, underscoring challenges to achieving cohesion on critical geopolitical issues.