Europe must engage the United States in security debates and find a way to bring it closer to Ukraine after the suspension of US military aid to Kiev, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said, Reuters reports.
He stressed that Europe must be ready to replace US support for Ukraine and ensure its own security with its own resources. The Czech Republic is already considering increasing defense spending to 3% of gross domestic product in the coming years, up from about 2% in 2024.
In addition, the Czech government is leading an initiative to procure ammunition for Ukraine, securing supplies from various parts of the world. According to Lipawski, this initiative has secured supplies for the coming months and continues to seek additional funding from donor countries.
Last Friday, US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, accusing him of insufficient appreciation for US support and efforts to end the war. This has left Europe in a position where it must urgently respond to security issues.
On Tuesday, the European Commission proposed a loan of up to 150 billion euros for EU member states as part of a rearmament plan motivated by Russia's war in Ukraine and concerns that Europe can no longer rely on US protection.
In an interview later that day, Lipawski welcomed the package, saying it would be a good basis for a summit of EU leaders on Thursday, where Ukraine and security will be discussed.
“We must continue to engage in dialogue with the US on European security issues and find a way to bring Ukraine and the US closer together,“ Lipawski stressed.
“We must not give up on the US - under any circumstances. But this is the reality we have to deal with.“
At the summit, he expects clear positions from all 27 member states that will determine the future steps on security issues.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has often clashed with the EU over support for Ukraine, has already called on the bloc to start direct talks with Russia for a ceasefire and to abandon the idea of a joint declaration at the summit.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who also calls for swift peace talks and opposes military aid to Ukraine, has defined the EU's strategy of “peace through strength” as unrealistic.
The US under Trump has already begun talks with Russia to end the war, but without the participation of Kiev or the EU.
Lipavsky said that Ukraine must be at the negotiating table and that a just and lasting peace is needed, warning that previous truces between Kiev and Moscow have not yielded results.
“The main interest of the Czech Republic, and, I hope, of most European countries, is to stop Russian imperialism and defend the principle that borders should not be changed by force,“ he stressed.