EU leaders affirm military support for Ukraine, excluding Orbán
European Union leaders have firmly rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's demand to stop military aid to Ukraine. They believe that Ukraine needs strong military and defense capabilities to effectively counter Russia's invasion. During a recent call with Donald Trump, Putin reiterated his request for the EU and other countries to cease military support for Ukraine. He argued that stopping such assistance would help lead to peace talks. However, EU leaders remained united in their commitment to continue supplying weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. At a summit in Brussels, the EU leaders emphasized their "peace through strength" policy. They called on member states to urgently increase military support for Ukraine. António Costa, president of the European Council, stated that the EU would support Ukraine in both ongoing negotiations and during peacetime. While most EU leaders endorsed a statement supporting Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán did not sign the agreement. Orbán has been a vocal critic of military assistance to Ukraine and has previously blocked EU funding meant for Kyiv. His actions have caused frustration among other EU officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the EU leaders, expressing disappointment at Orbán's obstruction. He emphasized that one country's opposition can hinder important decisions that affect the entire continent. Putin's call for a halt in military aid was also dismissed by Trump, who assured Zelenskyy of ongoing support for Ukraine's defense needs, particularly in protecting civilian infrastructure. The European leaders aim to uphold their support for Ukraine while urging Russia to seek a real diplomatic solution to the conflict.