Special European Council, 6 March 2025

EU leaders are meeting for a special summit to discuss continued support for Ukraine and European defence.

We are living a defining moment for Ukraine and European security.

European Council President António Costa, 23 February 2025

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is invited to the meeting.

• Invitation letter by President António Costa to the members of the European Council, 27 February 2025
• Background brief 

Support for Ukraine

There is a new momentum as regards the situation in Ukraine. EU leaders will discuss how the EU can further support Ukraine, and the principles that should be respected going forward.

In this context, they will exchange views on European contributions to the necessary security guarantees required to ensure a lasting peace in Ukraine.

The EU and its member states are ready to take more responsibility for European security.

European Council President António Costa, 27 February 2025

Since the start of Russia’s military aggression, the EU and its member states have provided nearly €135 billion in support for Ukraine and its people, including €48.7 billion to support the Ukrainian armed forces.

The EU has also adopted unprecedented sanctions against Russia: the latest sanctions, adopted on 24 February 2025, target vital areas of the Russian economy, including banking, Putin’s shadow fleet and goods and technologies in the industrial and energy sectors.

European defence

At the Egmont retreat of 3 February, EU leaders discussed how to strengthen European defence in terms of collective capabilities, financing and strategic partnerships.

Building on that discussion and in view of the urgency of the situation in Ukraine, the leaders will aim to take first decisions to help Europe become more sovereign, capable and better equipped to deal with present and future security challenges.

The EU and its member states are committed to spending more and better together on defence, and have already taken decisive action in that regard. Between 2021 and 2024, the member states’ total defence expenditure rose by more than 30%, amounting to an estimated €326 billion, which is roughly 1.9% of EU GDP.