EU Leaders Pledge Unity After Trump Urges Europe to Defend Itself

Emergency talks held in Brussels to discuss security measures, EU leaders commit to boosting defense spending

- ASSOCIATED PRESS

European Union leaders on Thursday committed to working together to bolster the continent's defenses and to free up hundreds of billions of euros for security after American President Donald Trump's repeated warnings that he would cut them adrift to face the threat of Russia alone.

With the growing conviction that they will now have to fend for themselves, countries that have faltered on defense spending for decades held emergency talks in Brussels to explore new ways to beef up their security and ensure future protection for Ukraine.

"Today history is being written," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters after the summit ended.