EU leaders open emergency talks on defence and Ukraine aid as US support wanes

European Council President Antonio Costa, right, greets Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union, prior to a meeting at the European Council building in Brussels on Thursday (Virginia Mayo/AP)

Facing the possibility of a fundamental disengagement under US President Donald Trump, European Union leaders opened a day of emergency summit talks on Thursday to beef up their own military defences and make sure Ukraine will still be properly protected by its allies.

Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor of Germany, was conferring with summit host Antonio Costa over breakfast on how to meet the challenge on a short deadline only days after he and his prospective coalition partner pushed plans to loosen the nation’s rules on running up debt to allow for higher defence spending.