In the presence of the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, the European Council reaffirmed its “constant, firm and unwavering” support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. But beyond political solidarity, European leaders also highlighted the concrete progress made in Kyiv’s accession process to the EU.
On 15 June, Ukraine officially opened the “Fundamentals” group of chapters as part of the accession negotiations. This symbolic milestone confirms that, despite the war, the country’s European integration is continuing to make progress. The EU-27 have also confirmed their commitment to continuing their long-term financial support, with an initial disbursement expected before the end of June as part of a €90bn loan planned for the period 2026–2027.
The country’s reconstruction is also one of the EU’s priorities. A dedicated international conference will be held in Gdańsk, Poland, on 25 and 26 June, with the aim of mobilising the funding needed to rebuild Ukraine’s infrastructure.
Increased pressure on Russia
The European Council has also adopted a tougher stance towards Moscow. Leaders condemned the recent Russian strikes against Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure, as well as attacks on protected cultural sites.
European concerns are no longer confined to Ukrainian territory. The incident in Romania at the end of May, when a Russian drone carrying explosives crashed into a residential block, is cited as a direct illustration of the risks the conflict now poses to the security of the Union itself.
Against this backdrop, Brussels is preparing a 21st series of sanctions against Russia. The aim remains to weaken Russia’s war economy in the long term, notably by targeting its energy revenues, the banking system and the “ghost fleet” used to circumvent Western restrictions on oil exports.
European defence is moving to a new level
Beyond Ukraine, it is, above all, the transformation of European defence policy that has characterised this summit. For European leaders, the war waged by Russia now constitutes an “existential challenge” for the Union. The European Council has therefore set an ambitious target: to significantly boost Europe’s defence readiness by 2030.
This strategy is based on several key areas. The first concerns the protection of the Union’s borders, particularly on its eastern flank, where airspace violations and incidents linked to the war in Ukraine are fuelling concerns. Member states are being called upon to speed up projects to monitor and protect land, sea and air borders.
The second priority area concerns military capabilities. The 27 member states wish to accelerate the development of air defence systems, drones, anti-drone capabilities, early-warning systems and space-based assets designed to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy.
Finally, the EU intends to strengthen its defence industrial base. Leaders believe that Europe must be capable of producing more military equipment, more quickly and on a larger scale. The experience gained by Ukraine on the ground, particularly in the use of drones and innovative warfare technologies, is now seen as a source of inspiration for future European capabilities.
A new phase for the Union
These conclusions reflect a profound shift in the European stance. Whilst support for Kyiv remains the immediate priority, the EU is now preparing a structural response to the security challenges that lie ahead. Three years after the start of the Russian invasion, Brussels is no longer content merely to manage the consequences of the conflict. The EU-27 are planning for a prolonged confrontation with Moscow and are seeking to adapt their security model, their defence industry and their military capabilities accordingly.
The next meeting is scheduled for October 2026, when European leaders will assess the initial progress made towards this 2030 defence preparedness target.
This Friday, 19 June, European leaders will be discussing the issue of funding for the EU budget.
