BRUSSELS — European Union leaders concluded a two-day summit on Thursday, agreeing to expand joint defence financing and reaffirming long-term support for Ukraine, the European Council president announced.

The summit at the Europa building brought together the heads of state and government of all 27 member states. Discussions focused on the bloc's response to security threats on its eastern flank and pressure from Washington for Europe to increase military spending.

Leaders debated the European Commission's proposals to mobilise additional funding for defence procurement and accelerate joint purchasing of military equipment. The Baltic countries and Poland pushed for firmer commitments, while others raised concerns over fiscal constraints and using frozen Russian assets to finance aid for Kyiv.

The agreement carries significant implications for the EU's strategic autonomy and its relationship with the United States, where the Trump administration has repeatedly urged allies to boost military spending. Ukrainian officials have closely watched the talks, having warned that continued Western support is critical to sustaining their war effort.

A European Council spokesperson said the conclusions reflected "a shared determination to strengthen Europe's security and to stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary," while acknowledging that detailed financing arrangements would require further technical work.