European Union leaders are now reportedly set to convene in Brussels on Thursday for a high-stakes summit that could lay bare growing divisions within the bloc, as pressure mounts over how — and whether — to continue funding Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing war.
At the center of the dispute is a proposal to use roughly €210 billion in frozen Russian assets to bankroll Ukraine’s defense and government operations. According to Politico, the Trump administration has been actively urging allied European governments to abandon the plan, warning that the move could undermine broader efforts to bring the conflict to an end.
Four EU officials told Politico that White House officials have focused their outreach on national capitals rather than EU institutions in Brussels, targeting governments they view as most receptive. Italy, Bulgaria, Malta, and Czechia have joined Belgium in opposing the asset seizure plan, creating a significant bloc of resistance inside the EU.
“They want to make us weak,” a senior EU official familiar with the strained transatlantic relationship said, reflecting frustration among some European leaders who view Washington’s approach as heavy-handed.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that failure to reach an agreement would have lasting consequences for the European Union. Speaking in a German television interview, Merz said the bloc’s credibility and unity are on the line.
“We will show the world that, at such a crucial moment in our history, we are incapable of standing together and acting to defend our own political order on this European continent,” Merz said. He cautioned that internal discord could damage the EU for years if leaders cannot present a united front.
The White House, however, pushed back strongly against claims that it is meddling in European decision-making. Deputy press secretary Anna Kelly dismissed the accusations as speculative and misleading.
“Spitballing from anonymous sources who were not present for these discussions should not be taken seriously,” Kelly said. She emphasized that Washington’s focus remains on ending the conflict. “The United States’ only objective is bringing peace to this conflict.”
The debate comes at a critical moment for Ukraine’s finances. Kyiv is facing a projected budget shortfall of €71.7 billion next year. Without securing new funding by April, Ukrainian officials have warned they may be forced to slash public spending, a move that could hurt morale at home and weaken the country’s ability to continue defending itself against Russian forces.
The funding dilemma has also reignited broader questions about leadership within the Western alliance. Manfred Weber, the leader of the European People’s Party, delivered a stark assessment earlier this week, suggesting the global balance of leadership has shifted.
“The U.S. is obviously no longer leader of the free world,” Weber told reporters, underscoring a growing sentiment among some European elites that Washington’s priorities no longer align neatly with those of Brussels.
As EU leaders gather, the summit is shaping up to be more than a routine meeting. It represents a test of Europe’s political cohesion, its willingness to shoulder greater responsibility for Ukraine, and its ability to navigate a more assertive and transactional United States under President Donald Trump.
Whether the bloc can bridge its internal divides — or whether those fractures deepen — could have lasting implications not only for Ukraine’s future, but for the EU’s standing on the world stage.
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