The leaders of the 27 Member States and the Presidents of the European Council, António Costa, and the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, met by videoconference for around thirty minutes on Wednesday 26 February to discuss Ukraine and Europe’s defence.
“The meeting essentially focused on (French) President Emmanuel Macron’s account of his visit to Washington, followed by a short question-and-answer session”, explained an EU source.
“Continuing to work on close European coordination”, this meeting was “very useful to prepare our special European Council on 6 March, where we will take decisions on our support to Ukraine and strengthening European defence”, said António Costa on X.
“Following my discussions with Donald Trump in Washington and in preparation for the European Council on 6 March, we reaffirmed our commitment to working together toward the conditions for a lasting and solid peace in Ukraine and for Europe’s security”, explained Mr Macron on X.
The Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, was pleased to hear the French President say that close cooperation between the EU and the United States was “vital” if lasting peace is to be achieved in Ukraine. “Undiminished support for Ukraine, security guarantees and investment in European defence are needed to make that lasting peace possible”, he explained.
According to the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, one of the aims of the videoconference was to “promote the creation of a European security and defence area”. “Ukraine, Spain and the world need a strong, united Europe. And that is what we will provide”, he promised on X.
Ahead of the meeting, the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, whose country holds the Presidency of the EU Council said that “there is still much work to be done, but (there is) some hope on the horizon that, united and showing solidarity, we will find a good way to put an end to this war”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)