European Union leaders have held emergency talks to explore new ways to beef up their own security and ensure that Ukraine will still be protected amid the prospect that the United States might cut them adrift under President Donald Trump.

Ursula von der Leyen announced that Ukraine could join the EU before 2030 if it meets certain criteria. Amid rising tensions, Trump has sided with Russia, complicating Ukraine's EU accession, which faces legal hurdles.

The 27 leaders signed off on a move to loosen budget restrictions so willing EU countries can increase military spending. They also urged the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, to explore new ways to facilitate significant defense spending in all member states,

World leaders gathered to show support for Ukraine with Washington wavering on backing the government in Kyiv.

The EU is poised to spend up to €800billion (£660billion) on defence thanks to a new major continental funding drive, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has vowed. On Tuesday, Von der Leyen proposed a borrowing drive worth €150billion to lend to EU Governments - which,

Moscow blasts ‘confrontational’ Macron ahead of emergency EU summit with Zelensky - Halt to intelligence sharing came before Macron warned Europe to be ready if US was ‘no longer on our side’

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Russia's President Vladimir Putin was set on Ukraine's "capitulation", as she announced 3.5 billion euros of fresh aid to Kyiv. His goal remains Ukraine's capitulation,

Ursula von der Leyen says she and other European leaders ... as well as a large-scale prisoner exchange between Kyiv and Moscow, at a meeting in Saudi Arabia next week. “We all need to feel ...