**Europe Scrambles to React to US Halting Military Aid to Ukraine**
A top diplomat from a major European country has spoken out about the situation, saying that Donald Trump is doing Europe a favor by making them take action. The diplomat asked not to be named, so they could share their thoughts freely.
The pace of change in Washington can be dizzying, and Europe is scrambling to react effectively. There has been a frenzy of diplomatic activity, including bilateral meetings, late-night leader phone calls, and emergency security summits.
**European Leaders Meet to Discuss Ukraine Crisis**
Most European countries believe that the security of all of Europe is at stake, with Russia looking to dismantle the western-facing balance of power. Washington’s decision to halt military aid to Ukraine has been met with alarm, with some leaders saying it shows a lack of commitment from the US.
**Europe Needs to Spend More on Defence**
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte is warning Europeans that they need to spend more than 3% of GDP on defence to effectively wean themselves off their reliance on the US. If Donald Trump pulls out of Europe altogether, never mind Ukraine, that would mean spending 4-6% of GDP.
**European Splits Loom Large**
Potential splits are looming large within the EU, with some countries close to Russia and the US administration resisting efforts to help Ukraine. Countries near Russia’s borders are already spending high percentages of their GDP on defence, but big European economies like Italy and Spain are failing to meet the Nato minimum requirement.
**European Leaders Debate Defence Spending**
EU leaders will debate proposals to mobilise 800bn euros for defence spending, including using joint budgets creatively and suspending EU fiscal rules. The debate is likely to be heated, with some countries resisting efforts to increase defence spending.
**Conclusion**
Europe is facing a crisis, and the situation in Ukraine has highlighted deep divisions within the EU. European leaders need to come together to discuss how to respond to the US decision to halt military aid, and they also need to address their own defence spending and reliance on the US.