Ukraine and U.S. Plan New Talks as EU Grapples with Defense Challenges

Amid tensions with the U.S., the EU is pushing for increased military spending while Ukraine signals readiness for peace negotiations with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. officials are preparing a new meeting to address ongoing military and diplomatic issues, following a tense encounter at the White House.
The U.S. has paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, with reports suggesting the suspension might be lifted if Ukraine agrees to a resource deal with the U.S.
EU leaders convene in Brussels to discuss bolstering Europe's defense capacity, with proposals including an €800 billion rearmament initiative and potential changes to EU debt rules for military spending.
French President Emmanuel Macron is considering extending France's nuclear deterrence to European allies and has proposed an international meeting on deploying peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.
Internal divisions within the EU and differing stances on supporting Ukraine, particularly from Hungary and Slovakia, complicate efforts to present a unified front in response to U.S. policy shifts.