Europe is preparing to ramp up its defense spending for Ukraine, with a staggering €700 billion reportedly set aside for military aid. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock inadvertently revealed the plan during an interview, even though it wasn’t supposed to be public knowledge until after Germany’s elections on February 23.
The revelation, first reported by Berliner Zeitung, suggests that Europe is moving forward with its own strategy, heavily funded by Germany, rather than waiting for U.S. assistance.
Baerbock, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, described the initiative as an unprecedented emergency measure for European security. Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene echoed this urgency, stressing that Europe must take charge of its own defense while still coordinating with the U.S. “We need to act fast and spend big—hundreds of billions, immediately,” she insisted.
However, the extent of U.S. involvement remains uncertain. While former President Trump has emphasized that Europe should boost its defense spending, he has also made clear that his priority is peace, not escalating conflict. His stance raises questions about whether Washington will support or distance itself from Europe’s colossal arms procurement plans.
The massive funding proposal emerged shortly after an emergency summit in Paris, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. The meeting centered on forming a European security force to operate behind future ceasefire lines. While British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signaled openness to deploying U.K. troops to Ukraine, other leaders expressed hesitation. Spain and Poland outright rejected the idea, though both reaffirmed their commitment to aiding Kyiv. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also dismissed the notion as “completely premature.”
Scholz later reinforced NATO’s principle of collective security, warning against any division between European and U.S. responsibilities. “NATO operates on unity. That must never be questioned,” he stated on X (formerly Twitter). Meanwhile, Trump has maintained that the U.S. will not send troops to enforce any eventual peace deal.
Attendees at the Paris summit included France, the U.K., Spain, Poland, Germany, Italy, and Denmark, alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and top EU officials. Despite their discussions, many EU nations were notably absent, raising doubts about the true level of European unity. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk underscored the stakes, cautioning that failure to invest now could mean exponentially higher costs in the future.
Still, not everyone is convinced of Europe’s path. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has openly accused financial elites of profiting from the war, further complicating the political landscape. Additionally, some EU leaders have questioned why only a handful of countries were involved in the high-stakes Paris meeting. As Hungarian MEP András László pointedly remarked, “If the eight countries gathered in Paris represent ‘EU unity,’ what should the two-thirds of EU nations who weren’t invited think?”
With tensions high and differing priorities among European leaders, the coming weeks will be critical in determining how—and whether—this unprecedented military funding plan takes shape.
