Brussels - Munich: Europe and the Arabs
The European Union sent a clear message to both Russia and the United States of America, and it came through the speech of the President of the Union, Antonio Costa, at the Munich Security Conference 2025, and published by the European Union institutions in Brussels today, Saturday, and came in response to the agreement between Moscow and Washington to hold a summit meeting on the issue of ending the war in Ukraine. Costa's speech said, "On February 24, 2022, the European Union changed.
On the first day of the war in Ukraine, at 7 pm, European leaders met in an emergency meeting in Brussels and exchanged views with President Zelensky. It was a very dramatic discussion. Russian tanks were on their way to Kiev. Russian bombs were falling across Ukraine.
Before we ended our meeting, President Zelensky said that these were probably his last moments alive. I remember very well the clear feeling in the room: This was the moment when a new geopolitical European Union was born. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine shook the European security architecture to the core.
In cooperation with our transatlantic allies, we moved immediately to support Ukraine's sovereignty and independence Its destiny and territorial integrity: with humanitarian aid, economic assistance, the toughest sanctions ever against Russia and unprecedented military support. Perhaps most important of all, a clear sense of Ukraine’s future as a full member of the European Union.

After three years, Ukraine has resisted valiantly, Putin has failed in his attempt to take control of Ukraine, and, as we have all seen, President Zelensky is stronger than ever.

Today, my message is clear. We will not give up. We will continue to support Ukraine as an integral part of our peace project.
Only Ukraine can determine when the conditions for negotiations are in place. It is a grave mistake to assume concessions before any negotiations. Therefore, we will continue to stand side by side with Ukraine: in negotiations, in providing security guarantees, in reconstruction, and as a future member of the European Union. This is the position of the European Union and it is also the position of Ukraine.

What does comprehensive, just and lasting peace mean? It means that peace in Ukraine cannot be separated from the security of Europe. It means that we take into account that the Russian threat extends beyond Ukraine. Russia dominates Belarus. Russia has a military presence in Moldova and Georgia. Russia is casting a shadow over the Baltic states, the EU’s eastern borders, our democratic systems, and our critical infrastructure. This means that a comprehensive peace cannot be just a ceasefire. It cannot give Russia the opportunity to attack again. It cannot reward the aggressor. It must ensure that Russia will not pose a threat to Ukraine, Europe, and its neighbors. And that Russia will not pose a threat to international security.

In building this peace, the EU will assume its full responsibilities. In short: there will be no credible and successful negotiations, no lasting peace, without Ukraine and without the EU.

The EU after February 2022 is not the same. First, we accelerated the enlargement to the Western Balkans and opened negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. Second, we decided to strengthen our energy security by decoupling from Russia, in a massive collective effort, especially here in Germany, under the leadership of Olaf Scholz. Third, less than a month after the war began, all member states decided at Versailles to effectively implement the construction of a defensive Europe. Our defence spending has increased by 30% since 2021. EU countries that are members of NATO now spend, on average, 2% on defence. Together we have reached the target. But we will do more. The EU is a peace project by design. But we know that peace without defence is an illusion.

Two weeks ago, I brought together EU leaders to provide political guidance to the European Commission and the High Representative: on the capabilities we need to build together, mobilising more public and private finance and strengthening our partnerships, particularly with the UK and NATO. The Commission and the High Representative will present proposals next month, and I will keep defence at the top of the European Council agenda. That is the direction. That is our commitment.

The EU is a reliable and predictable partner. A strong economic and trade actor. And we are firmly committed to working better, stronger and faster to build a defence-friendly Europe.