This week, European defense leaders will hold a conference in Paris to discuss plans to provide security assurances to Ukraine as the continent step up after decades of reliance on the US
French President Emmanuel Macron led a speech to Tuesday's gathering of defence chiefs from 30 European and NATO countries after US “America's first” policy directions forced Europeans to act.
Macron told French newspaper Le Figaro that it was time to “make a move from concept to plan,” and told French newspaper Le Figaro that France would increase its defensive spending from 2% to 3.5% of GDP, reaching around 30 billion euros a year.
While details of the peacekeeping forces remain fluid, some officials said they hope for targeted deterrence aimed at protecting key infrastructure, rather than a wide frontline blockade.
Lithuanian Defense Minister: The only way to negotiate with Russia is with a “gun on the table”
French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with the chiefs of the European Union and NATO forces before a meeting in Paris. (Reuters/Sarah Macesonnier/Pool)
Last week, Europeans were disappointed when they announced they would suspend all aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, but that suspension was lifted on Tuesday after Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire. All eyes are turning to Russia to see if Russian President Vladimir Putin, who came on Tuesday after debate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will accept the contract.
The US argues that it is Europe's responsibility to provide Ukraine with military resources to help Russia invade again after reaching a ceasefire. President Donald Trump has cheated on the idea that he will not protect European countries under Article 5 of NATO.
The new call for European defense was a welcome development of the eastern side of NATO. There, a small country overcame the large European counterparts in defence spending as a percentage of GDP over the years.
“We shouldn't panic [Trump statements]” said Ziedrimas Jegliskas, chairman of the National Security Committee of the Lithuanian Parliament.
“Europeans need to think about what kind of troops they will have in Ukraine,” he told Fox News Digital. “Europeans need to keep most [our security] now. We need to show good intentions. After good intentions, the numbers must be displayed. How many troops can you generate, what kind of troops can you generate, and what kind of support do you need from the US? ”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz say after Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire in Saudi Arabia talks. (Saul Loeb/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
“I'm not going to offer much security guarantee,” Trump said at his first cabinet meeting on February 26th.
The United States, the most militarily powerful member of NATO, was not invited to talks in Paris as they wanted to show that European countries could be responsible for most of their work protecting Ukraine once the armistice is in effect, French military officials told The Associated Press.
However, Jeglinskas said Europe should acquiesce to the US to pour more into its own defenses, as it requires the US for air defense like the Patriot missile.
“People complaining about the US – there's a wealth of it in Europe – yeah, show me an alternative. There's nothing.”
Over the weekend, top Trump adviser Elon Musk posted to X that the US was leaving NATO, saying it “really should.” “It makes no sense for America to pay for Europe's defense,” he wrote.
Trump says Inter's pause in Ukraine has been “just” lifted. Tariffs say it will enrich America
“That's common sense,” Trump told reporters for the NATO Alliance last week. “If they don't pay, I'm not going to protect them. No, I'm not going to protect them.”
Jeglinskas said at his meeting behind closed doors that US authorities have expressed that America's commitment to Article 5 is “as strong as ever.”
“Sometimes, Trump goes to bring people to real status,” said Jonathan Bass, foreign affairs expert and CEO of Argent LNG. “The fact that he went to what he thought was crazy, [the Europeans] He actually took him seriously and did what they needed to do. ”
As Ukrainian President Voldy Meezelensky agreed to a ceasefire, Europe met to discuss security assurances. (Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
As Lithuania currently spends 4% on defense and plans to knock that number at 5-6% next year, Defense Minister Dovile Shakarien said her country is planning to pay US defense manufacturers “towards $8 billion.”
Russian attacks that could extend beyond Ukraine, including potentially entering the Baltic Sea in Lithuania, “we are worried about us,” she said.
“That's why we're really pushing our military capabilities plan forward, from weapons to ammunition, building factories to the defense industry, with defense capacity building, infrastructure, personnel and acquisitions.”
Europe has provided approximately $139 billion in aid to Ukraine since the start of the war, while the US has provided approximately $128 billion.
However, the European Union last week proposed a $84.1 billion plan for “Reimm Europe.” This included a $158 billion emergency loan proposal to arm European capabilities in vulnerable regions such as air defense and ammunition. The plan also calls for ease of strict debt caps agreed by the bloc for defence spending.
Click here to get the Fox News app
“This is an instant for Europe and we are ready to step up,” said Europe's Commissioner Ursula von der Reyen last week.
Shakarien said that “strengthening the northeastern side” of Europe was the “combined goal” and could mean stationing postponed missiles targeting Baltic Russia, such as Lithuania.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
