**European Leaders Consider French Nuclear Umbrella**
On March 6, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda expressed positive views on a proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron to extend France’s nuclear umbrella to protect European allies.
Macron suggested starting “strategic discussions” on the idea. He warned Europe against Russian threats and emphasized that European countries should not rely on the U.S. for their security. Poland and Lithuania, both NATO members, share borders with Russia and its ally Belarus.
Tusk called Macron’s proposal “very promising.” Nauseda said a nuclear umbrella would be an effective deterrence against potential Russian aggression.
The idea of nuclear sharing with France has been floated before by German politician Friedrich Merz. It comes amid uncertainty about the U.S.’s commitment to European security under President Donald Trump.
**Boosting Defense Spending**
European leaders are gathering in Brussels to discuss boosting defense spending and supporting Ukraine. This includes the European Commission’s ReArm Europe plan, which could mobilize up to 800 billion euros ($860 billion) to arm Europe and Ukraine.
The plan covers Ukraine’s operational nuclear power plants, as well as the cities of Odesa and Lviv. Polish Prime Minister Tusk called this readiness “very promising” and urged taking Macron’s proposal seriously.
**Russia-Ukraine Conflict**
Ukrainian forces downed 68 out of 112 Russian drones and two ballistic missiles in an overnight attack. Ukrainian officials say the pause in intelligence sharing with the U.S. makes it harder to hit Russian targets.
Romania has expelled Russian military attaches for breaching diplomatic rules. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said France is providing intelligence resources to Ukraine.
**U.S. Relations**
The U.S. has frozen military aid for Ukraine and seeks to renew its relationship with Russia. Trump’s allies have held talks with Ukrainian opposition leaders, which some see as a threat to the country’s security.
Ukrainian officials say they are working with U.S. partners to ensure bipartisan support for Kyiv. The Netherlands will provide Ukraine with 3.5 billion euros ($3.8 billion) in government support in 2026.