Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made the remarks on his arrival at the critical European Council in Brussels, which deals with the defence of Europe.

“Today at the extraordinary Council we will first of all discuss the proposals put forward by the President of the Commission on how we can drastically strengthen our deterrent capability as the EU,” the Prime Minister said.

European leaders are seeking approval of bold measures to increase defence spending and will reaffirm their commitment to support Ukraine, particularly after Donald Trump‘s suspension of military aid to Kiev, which has raised concerns about Europe’s ability to rely on the US for protection.

The meeting comes at a crucial time as dramatic decisions on defence policy are being forced by fears that Russia, emboldened by the war in Ukraine, may attack an EU country. The prime minister is expected to reiterate the message that the current geopolitical situation, with its constant upheavals and uncertainty, calls for ambitious and innovative measures to strengthen the defence capabilities of EU member states during the extraordinary summit.