EU leaders are gathering in Paris this Monday to respond to a growing sense of strain in their standoff with Russia over the war in Ukraine. About twenty European Union heads of state and government will meet in the French capital to reaffirm military support for Kyiv, at a moment when U.S. aid appears more cautious. As the meeting begins, French President Emmanuel Macron, a key driver of the summit at the Elysee Palace, says the moment calls for a united response from all member states.
“The collective read is that within a few years Russia could strike any eastern European partner, and that our security is on the line,” Macron stressed. He echoed warnings from other EU and NATO leaders who have raised concerns about potential Russian aggression, even as there is no proof of an imminent strike beyond the troubling lessons of the ongoing war and its toll on the region.
Two years into the invasion, the Ukrainian military has faced setbacks—from a faltering counteroffensive in the summer to the recent loss of the city of Avdiivka, a battlefield site since 2014—while Western publics show war fatigue, even as it remains overshadowed by other conflicts in the world. The purpose of the Paris gathering is to present a counter-narrative to the impression that the alliance is losing momentum. Sources at the Elysee emphasise that unity is a central goal during a difficult period for the Western bloc.
“Russia Is Preparing New Attacks”
Macron has warned that Russia has hardened its posture in recent months. On the Ukrainian front, positions are tougher and there is a belief that Moscow is planning fresh offensives, meant to intimidate both Kyiv and Western observers. The French president singled out the recent death of a political opponent, Alexei Navalny, in a harsh Arctic prison as an example of the broader pressure Moscow is applying to its opponents.
Alongside the show of unity in these tough times, the afternoon summit aims to expand and strengthen military assistance to Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who addressed the meeting by video, lamented that only about thirty percent of the promised one million artillery shells from the EU has been delivered, far short of what was pledged. He did not attend in person but spoke to the assembly to underscore urgent needs.
Among the attendees are European leaders Pedro Sánchez, Olaf Scholz, and Mark Rutte. In addition to the twenty-some heads of state and government from the EU, ministers from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States are taking part. A major concern for Kyiv and its supporters is the slow pace of American aid, largely stalled by a Republican-majority Congress. Some fear the situation could worsen should a Republican win in the November U.S. elections bring a shift in stance toward the war in Ukraine. The meeting is seen as a chance to reiterate commitment and coordinate support now, while preparing for potential future political shifts in allied capitals.
Cited voices from the Elysee stress that the gathering is about more than spectacle. It seeks to translate political resolve into tangible military and economic assistance, ensuring that Kyiv has the tools it needs to defend itself, while allies assess longer-term strategies for deterrence and peace negotiations. The discussion also touches on the broader security architecture in Europe, including how NATO’s posture adapts to a changing threat landscape and how energy resilience ties into defense planning. The goal is a concrete, synchronized response that can withstand both the immediate pressures of the battlefield and the evolving political winds at home in each participating nation.