Following US intelligence cuts to Ukraine, European leaders gathered in Brussels to forge an €800bn defense plan. A Russian missile strike on Zelensky's hometown killed four people as he departed for the summit, though UK and US volunteers survived the attack.
Macron's statement about European self-reliance drew sharp Russian rhetoric, comparing him to Napoleon and Hitler. The Five Eyes alliance showed strain as UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada distanced themselves from US positions. Poland emphasized urgency in matching Russian arms production.
By evening, plans emerged for "Operation Sky Shield," involving 120 European fighter jets patrolling Ukrainian airspace. The day concluded with news of planned US-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia next week, marking a potential shift from the confrontational stance of previous days. Trump's partial suspension of Canadian and Mexican tariffs suggested broader diplomatic recalibration.