European Union leaders at today’s summit will seek to confirm their plans to increase defense spending, but they are particularly concerned about another issue: whether they will have a role in Ukrainian and Donald Trump’s efforts to cease fire.

EU 27 leaders meet in Brussels After contacts of the US president with Vladimir Putin and Volodimir Zelenski. Putin told Trump on Tuesday that he was willing to limit attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as a first step, but did not consent to a full cessation of the US. Zelenski also agreed to stop attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

At the same time, with the Trump government threatening to disrupted the commercial relationsEU leaders are planning to make plans that have long been discussed to enhance competitiveness.

In detail what will concern the summit:

Trump’s negotiating efforts

While the EU publicly welcomed US efforts to promote a peace deal, leaders are increasingly worried about the fact that do not participate in the negotiations of Trump with the Kremlin.

With Putin’s demands involving relief from EU sanctions, US officials have told their European counterparts that they will be included in any agreement, Bloomberg said. However, Many Member States do not agree with lifting Against Moscow. On the contrary, a plan of conclusions of the summit that Bloomberg saw repeats the readiness of the block to enforce more sanctionsas Brussels is discussing a 17th package of measures.

The European Commission, meanwhile, envisions Ukraine as a ‘steel“, Armed by the allies and uninvited for the Kremlin. And that is the just opposite From what Putin is asking for.

The EU has also supported the Connecting EU weapons industry with Ukraineas part of a new defense strategy. This means providing at least 2 million ammunition annually, while maintaining the training and equipment of the Ukrainian forces.

As has recently happened, EU Member States can proceed with their plans even without the “yes” of Hungary, which is aligned with Russia in terms of interruption of weapons deliveries to Kiev.

Defensive costs

Commission President Ursula von der Laien has proposed this month Extension of loans of 150 billion euros to reinforce the defense spending of the block.

Leaders will discuss these funds, which will be backed by the EU budget and will be accompanied by public procurement rules and exemption from value added tax.

Funds will support the purchases from EU -based entities, with a minimum of 65% of the cost of components coming from the block – or from neighboring countries such as Norway, Iceland and Ukraine.

While third countries cannot benefit directly from loans, some may cooperate with Member States for to apply for loans.

Member States who can work with EU Member States include Turkey, South Korea and Japan.

The EU also plans to activate a mechanism that will allow Member States to use their national budgets to spend About 650 billion euros In addition to defense over four years without causing fiscal sanctions. The clause is valid for four years and has a ceiling of the 1.5% of GDP. Leaders will evaluate whether the proposed funding will be sufficient or will need more.

Competitiveness

Before geopolitical turmoil dominates the summit, leaders will also discuss the competitiveness and efforts of the bloc to implement the measures contained in a report by the former ECB president, Mario Draghi.

Measures will be discussed to reinforce the economicthe creation of a compound capitalist and reduction her bureaucracy.

Leaders will also start discussing new budget of the block from the 2028 to 2034. In this context, they will affect the creation of new budget resources – with financial transactions tax returning as an option.