European Union leaders gathered in Brussels on Friday to demonstrate unwavering support for Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the second day of the summit amid a deepening personal and political confrontation with US President Donald Trump. The transatlantic alliance, already strained by trade disputes and divergent views on Russia, now faces a new fracture over Trump's recent diesel deal with Moscow and his demand that Ukraine halt attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.
The immediate trigger for the tension is Trump's insistence that Ukraine cease its long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries, which he blames for rising global fuel prices. Zelenskyy has rejected the demand, pointing instead to Trump's own military actions against Iran as the real cause of market disruption. In a defiant statement, the Ukrainian leader said the campaign against Russia's oil industry would continue unabated, dismissing concerns that Washington might retaliate by cutting off intelligence sharing.
EU officials, many of whom view these strikes as Kyiv's most effective leverage over Moscow, are expected to close ranks behind Zelenskyy. The summit's second day is deliberately focused on Ukraine, sending a clear signal that Europe remains committed to supporting Kyiv's defence against Russia's full-scale invasion, regardless of Washington's shifting posture. As one diplomat put it, the goal is to "show the world that Europe is not wavering."
European alternatives to US systems
Behind the scenes, Ukraine is already preparing for a future less dependent on American military technology. Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of Zelenskyy's office, told Euronews that work is underway on European alternatives to US-made air defence systems and Starlink satellite communications. Speaking exclusively to the Europe Today programme, Zhovkva revealed that the European FREYJA anti-ballistic missile programme has advanced to direct engagement between defence companies.
"We need a European equivalent of an air defence system," Zhovkva said, adding that Ukraine intends to play a leading role in its development. He declined to provide details on the Starlink alternative but insisted that progress would come far sooner than sceptics expect. "We have a clear timetable and deadlines," he said. "It will be much faster than ten or fifteen years, and even faster than five."
Zhovkva also stressed that Europe must be directly involved in any negotiations to end the war, arguing that Ukraine's future security is inseparable from that of the wider continent. This sentiment echoes the broader European concern that Washington could cut a deal with Moscow that ignores European interests, a fear amplified by Trump's recent diesel deal with Putin, which EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described as handing the Kremlin a strategic win.
A summit with a message
Friday's session is not the first time EU leaders have used a summit to voice solidarity with Ukraine; indeed, every such gathering since February 2022 has done so. But the context has changed dramatically. Zelenskyy has said he feels betrayed by the diesel supply agreement Trump struck with Vladimir Putin last Friday, a deal that openly defies Western sanctions and has broken EU consensus, with Bulgarian Prime Minister backing the move.
The personal relationship between Zelenskyy and Trump has deteriorated rapidly. Trump has called for new elections in Ukraine, which are prohibited under martial law, while Zelenskyy insists that strikes on Russian refineries will resume. The EU's response is to present a united front, even as some member states harbour doubts about the sustainability of supporting Ukraine indefinitely.
The summit also comes amid broader discussions on the EU's long-term budget, a contentious issue that has already frayed nerves among member states. Yet Ukraine remains the priority, and leaders are expected to issue a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to Kyiv's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
For Zelenskyy, the summit is an opportunity to secure concrete commitments, not just rhetoric. Ukraine needs more air defence systems, artillery, and financial support to sustain its war effort. The development of European alternatives to US systems is a long-term project, but Kyiv is pushing for accelerated timelines, aware that reliance on Washington is becoming increasingly precarious.
As the summit concludes, the message from Brussels is clear: Europe stands with Ukraine, and it is prepared to take on a greater share of the responsibility for the continent's security. Whether that translates into tangible action remains to be seen, but the political will is unmistakable.
