Friday Briefing

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in Brussels yesterday with the E.U.’s two top officials, António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen.Credit…Nicolas Tucat/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

European leaders discussed Ukraine and defense

At a meeting in Brussels yesterday, E.U. leaders discussed how to bolster both the continent’s defenses and its support for Ukraine. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, called it a “watershed moment.”

Europe’s goal is to better arm itself to deal with Russia without as much backup from the U.S. To reach that objective, a plan from the commission would offer 150 billion euros, or about $160 billion, in loans to invest in missile defense, anti-drone systems and other defense technologies.

The leaders also reviewed a peace plan for Ukraine and ways to support it financially and possibly with troops. “We are very thankful that we are not alone,” said Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who attended the meeting.

Jeanna Smialek, our Brussels bureau chief, said as the meeting was ongoing that E.U. leaders were mostly “vowing to stand by Ukraine.” The exception was Hungary, which has in the past been reluctant to join an E.U. consensus on Ukraine. It is “the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion that the E.U.’s unanimity on such a statement has broken,” Jeanna said.

Talks: U.S. and Ukrainian officials plan to meet next week in Saudi Arabia to discuss the first steps of a deal that could seek an end to the war.

Nuclear umbrella: The Frenchpresident, Emmanuel Macron, said his countrywas willing to discuss extending the protection afforded by its nuclear arsenal to its European allies.