ITV News Europe Editor James Mates reports from Brussels where European leaders gathered to discuss defence, while ITV News International Editor Emma Murphy brings the latest from Kyiv as Zelenskyy announces the US and Ukraine will meet in Saudi Arabia to hold peace talks next week.
The EU has backed a new defence spending plan that could free up 650 billion euros to rearm the continent after the Trump administration signaled that Europe would have to fend for itself in future.
The 27-nation bloc signed off the move that loosens budget restrictions, so that willing EU countries can increase their military spending after an emergency summit discussing Europe’s defence was held on Thursday.
The EU’s executive branch estimates that around 650 billion euros (£544bn) could be freed up this way.
At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was present at the summit, said his country had restarted talks with the US after the fallout in the White House last week.
The talks between Ukraine and the US on ending the war will take place in Saudi Arabia next week, with Zelenskyy saying he will attend them personally.
Although the bloc agreed on the defence plan, they could not agree on a statement announcing their support for Ukraine.
The Associated Press reported that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, seen as Russia’s closest friend in the bloc, refused to endorse the statement.
But all 26 other EU leaders approved the bloc’s stance that there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine and that the Europeans must be involved in any talks involving their security.
Zelenskyy thanked EU leaders for their support as he arrived.
“During all this period, and last week, you stayed with us…big appreciation. We are very thankful that we are not alone. And these are not just words – we feel it,” Zelenskyy said.
Arriving with the Ukrainian leader, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added that Europe “faces a clear and present danger”.
“We are very thankful that we are not alone,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said as he arrived at the summit
“This is a watershed moment for Europe and Ukraine as part of our European family. It’s also a watershed moment for Ukraine,” she said.
On the other side of the Atlantic, UK Defence Secretary John Healey joined his US counterpart Pete Hegseth in Washington on Thursday for a bilateral meeting on a possible peace plan while efforts continue to bridge a transatlantic rift over Ukraine’s future security.
Speaking to reporters, Healey said he was there to “strengthen” the defence “bond” between the US and UK.
The discussions come after four people were killed and dozens more injured in a Russian missile strike on a hotel in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih – Zelenskyy’s home town – late on Wednesday, according to the region’s governor.
Keir Starmer was not in Brussels, but on a visit to Liverpool on Thursday said “security and defence of our country, of Europe, of Ukraine is absolutely upper mind”.
“It’s really important that we focus on what matters most, and what matters most, in my view, is a lasting peace,” the PM added.
Macron mulling nuclear weapons for allies
French President Emmanuel Macron described Moscow as a “threat to France and Europe” before the summit, which Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described as “extremely confrontational”.
Peskov said it was clear that France wasn’t thinking about peace.
“One can conclude that France thinks more about war, about continuing the war,” Peskov added.
Macon has said he will confer with European allies on the idea of using France’s nuclear deterrent to protect the continent in the face of threats from Russia.
Speaking to France in a televised address on Wednesday, Macron said Russia is now spending 40% of its state budget on military spending, with plans to expand its army with 300,000 additional soldiers, 3,000 tanks and 300 jet fighters by 2030.
“Who can believe that today’s Russia will stop at Ukraine?” Macron asked.
Allies need to make sure Russia would not invade Ukraine again after a potential peace deal is signed by providing “long-term support for the Ukrainian army” and possibly deploying European forces, he added.
Baltic nations welcomed Macron’s proposal for talks about using France’s nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats.
From Westminster to Washington DC – our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below…
US impact
In just over a month, Trump has overturned old certainties about US reliability as a security partner, as he embraces Russia and withdraws American support for Ukraine.
Here is a breakdown of key events in Ukraine-US relations in recent days:
Friday: A heated exchange broke out in the Oval Office in which Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War Three” and told him to “come back when he is ready for peace”.
Trump’s administration and Ukrainian officials had been expected to sign off on a critical minerals deal, intended in part to pay back the US for aid it has sent Kyiv since the start of the war, before talks broke down.
Monday: Trump ordered a pause to US military supplies to Ukraine as he sought to press Zelenskyy to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia, bringing fresh urgency to the EU summit in Brussels.
Tuesday: Zelenskyy called the clash on Friday “regrettable” and said the meeting “did not go the way it was supposed to be”.
ITV News understands that Zelenskyy’s post on X is a summary of the formal ceasefire proposal drafted by him, Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Trump praised Zelenskyy in an address to Congress and said that Zelenskyy had written to him to express his appreciation for US support for his country in its war with Russia and that he was ready to sign a deal.
Wednesday: The US announced it had paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe called the suspension a “pause” and said that American intelligence and military aid could begin flowing again soon once Trump knew that Zelenskyy was serious about peace.
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