European Union leaders are in Brussels for an extraordinary meeting, aiming to boost defense capabilities and support for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski has been invited to the meeting and will also meet with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
The Ukrainian president stated, "It is a very good sign for Ukrainians to know that we are not alone. Thank you for your program to enhance European security. Thank you for the invitation."
Upon his arrival at the summit, Pedro Sánchez assured that at the summit, "we have to convey a message of total and unequivocal support to Ukraine" and revealed that he will call the spokespersons of the parliamentary groups, except for Vox, next week to analyze the situation.
The meeting comes a day after Donald Trump announced the decision to cut off U.S. intelligence cooperation with the Ukrainian military. However, the French Defense Minister announced that France is sharing military intelligence with Ukraine.
Furthermore, following Wednesday's speech by Emmanuel Macron, the Kremlin has considered France's nuclear umbrella as a "threat" and warned that European troops in Ukraine would "enter the war" against Russia.
On another note, Russian attacks have left five civilians dead in Ukraine. Four people died and 31 were injured in a missile attack on a hotel in Krivoy Rog, Zelenski's hometown, while a man died in a drone attack on warehouses on the outskirts of Sumy.
Czech Republic predicts no agreement today on Hungary and Slovakia
The Czech Prime Minister, conservative Petr Fiala, warned that it is "highly likely" that due to the positions of Hungary and Slovakia, no agreement will be reached on future support for Ukraine at today's special summit in Brussels.
"It is highly likely that this time we will not reach an agreement in Brussels, or an agreement on the next measures related to support for Ukraine," said the Czech leader on Czech television CT24 before attending the summit.
The lack of consensus is due, according to Fiala, to the positions of Hungary and Slovakia, which advocate for an immediate ceasefire without guarantees of territorial integrity for Ukraine, and could block any agreement today, as it requires a unanimous vote.
"If we take seriously the statements of Hungarian Prime Minister (Viktor) Orbán, and also of Slovak Prime Minister (Robert) Fico, we can at least assume that support for Ukraine in the future will not be as strong as in previous summits," said Fiala, whose country is one of Kiev's main allies in the EU.
Zelenski invites Belgium to join the peace plan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski met on Thursday in Brussels with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, whom he invited to join efforts by Kiev and other European countries like France and the UK to design a peace plan that includes Ukraine's demands.
"I have informed him about the preparation of a European plan to advance towards a fair peace and invited the Prime Minister to participate in the work on it," said Zelenski on his social networks after meeting with the Belgian Prime Minister in Brussels, where the Ukrainian president is participating today in the European Council.
Zelenski also discussed with De Wever the needs of Ukraine in terms of artillery systems and ammunition and investments in the production of long-range missiles and drones.
Six arrested in Romania suspected of conspiring for a coup with Russia
Six people have been arrested in Romania on suspicion of conspiring with Russia to plan a coup, according to the country's police, a member of the European Union and NATO.
The Romanian anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, arrested the six accused of forming a criminal group that was initially established in 2023 and had links with Russia.
The police indicated that the group was allegedly formed to undermine the "sovereignty and independence" of the Romanian state by "politically undermining the country's defense capacity."
Investigations supported by Romanian intelligence services revealed that the group allegedly sought "the elimination of the current constitutional order, the dissolution of political parties," and the installation of a new government formed by its members, according to the police.
The JEMAD will attend the meeting called by Macron to discuss a possible deployment in Ukraine
The Chief of the Defense Staff (JEMAD), Admiral General Teodoro Esteban López Calderón, will attend the meeting called by French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss a possible deployment of European forces once a peace agreement is signed in Ukraine, as confirmed on Thursday by Defense Minister Margarita Robles.
In video statements released by the Ministry of Defense, the minister details that the meeting, which will take place in Paris and will involve other European Chiefs of Staff, will be held next Tuesday.
However, Robles warned that the JEMAD's participation in the meeting does not imply "at all" that Spain will support a potential European deployment in Ukraine. "It is a long and complex decision that must always be assessed in the context of the unity of EU countries and support for Ukraine," she said.
The Kremlin warns that European troops in Ukraine would "enter the war" against Russia
The Kremlin issued a harsh response to the speech delivered by Emmanuel Macron to his citizens yesterday, offering to extend French nuclear deterrence to European allies... Moscow considers the nuclear rhetoric of the French president as a "threat" to Russia. The Kremlin condemns what it considers a "very confrontational" speech by the French president, in which he described Russia as a threat to Europe and stated that Paris would consider placing other countries under its nuclear protection.
Russia also warns that it would consider European peacekeeping forces deployed in Ukraine as officially involved troops in the war.
Sánchez: "We have to convey a message of total and unequivocal support to Ukraine"
"We are experiencing an international order that has been eroding in recent times with Putin's war in Ukraine and also the war in Gaza," said Pedro Sánchez upon his arrival at the summit.
"We are supporting Ukraine because we defend the right of the Ukrainian people to decide what they want to be and not be a country in the hands of foreign interests," he reiterated.
"There are countries seeking a divided Europe, and therefore, faced with these three challenges, what is important is for the Council to provide certainties. We have to convey a message of unity and strength. And it is important to incorporate the element of security, which goes beyond defense," added the Spanish president.
"We have to convey a message of total and unequivocal support to Ukraine. While there is speculation about a possible peace agreement, the reality is that the war continues," he said.
"Ukraine and Europe have to be in the negotiations that may take place, to see the conditions for a fair and lasting peace. We are in an early stage to know what Europe's role should be in that peace context," he said before revealing that he will call the rest of the groups except Vox next Thursday to discuss these issues.
Zelenski: "It is very good for Ukrainians to know that we are not alone"
Volodymyr Zelenski spoke a few words before the extraordinary meeting of European leaders in Brussels to which the Ukrainian president was invited.