East Front News 33: Paris Summit and Europe security, Budanov for Defence24

Paris Summit and Polish perspective

 On Monday, February 17, 2025, an informal summit of European leaders was held in Paris, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron. The meeting was a response to recent events at the Munich Security Conference, which had unsettled some European nations. Among the participants were the heads of government from Poland, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.  

The main topics of discussion were European security issues and strategy in response to the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump. Although the hours-long discussions did not result in a common position, key declarations were made that could accelerate the process of military build-up on the continent. One of the key agreements was related to defence spending.  

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that defence expenditures would no longer be considered excessive spending, meaning that EU member states would not face an excessive deficit procedure from the European Union. This marks a significant shift in the EU’s financial policy, allowing member states more flexibility in investing in their armed forces. Additionally, the European Commission pledged to present a plan to redirect unused funds originally allocated for post-pandemic economic recovery toward strengthening the defence capabilities of European nations. This is one of the most important conclusions of the summit.  

Market reactions to these declarations were immediate. Polish defence companies such as Lubawa and Zremb saw significant gains on the stock exchange. Similar trends were observed among European defence giants such as Rheinmetall, Thales, and BAE Systems. Regarding the potential involvement of European armed forces in Ukraine, Prime Minister Tusk explicitly stated that Poland does not plan to send its troops into Ukrainian territory. However, Warsaw is ready to provide logistical and political support to countries that choose to engage in such a mission. 

Europe must take security matters into its own hands

 During a recent meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels, U.S. Secretary of Defence Peter Hegseth stated that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security and support for Ukraine. He emphasized that the current defence spending level of 2% of GDP is insufficient and suggested aiming for 5% of GDP, citing Poland as an example with expenditures exceeding 4.5% of GDP.  

Hegseth stressed that the United States cannot continuously be responsible for Europe’s security and that transatlantic relations should focus on enabling Europe to ensure its own defence. Referring to Ukraine’s NATO membership, the Secretary of Defence called it „unrealistic” and warned that pursuing this goal could only prolong the conflict and increase suffering. Instead, he suggested providing Ukraine with appropriate security guarantees from all partners, not just European ones.  

Regarding a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, Hegseth stated that it should not take place under the NATO flag to avoid triggering Article 5 and the potential outbreak of a global conflict. He also emphasized that U.S. troops would not participate in such a mission. The most important thing, as emphasised by the US representative, is that the majority of humanitarian, financial and military responsibility would now fall on Europe.  

These actions align with the strategy of President Donald Trump’s administration, which prioritizes increasing European defence spending and pushing partners to take greater responsibility for their own security. Additionally, the United States plans to shift more focus to the Pacific region and the growing threat from China, which requires Europe to take a larger role in ensuring stability on the continent and supporting Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. 

Gen. Budanov for Defence24: "Russia will try to drive a wedge between Poland and Ukraine"

 Ukraine will always remember the helping hand that Poland extended in its most difficult moment. I am certain that if needed, Ukraine will reciprocate just as strongly,” said Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, in an interview with Defence24.  

The head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Holovne upravlinnia rozvidky Ministerstva oborony Ukrainy, HUR) is an extremely busy man, even in times of peace. That is why an opportunity to speak with the head of this institution, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, mere days before the third anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, is of great value. 

Read the interview: https://defence24.com/geopolitics/gen-budanov-for-defence24-russia-will-try-to-drive-a-wedge-between-poland-and-ukraine 

Power Connect Energy Summit 2025

 The Power Connect Energy Summit, scheduled for 26-28 March 2025, will bring together leading companies, subcontractors, technology innovators, and decision-makers to discuss energy transition in Poland. Organized by Energetyka24, part of the Defence24 Group, the summit will cover energy security in Poland and the Baltic Sea region, trends in EU climate policy, and their economic impacts. Międzynarodowe Targi Gdańskie S.A. will organize the exhibition segment, featuring industry leaders and service providers across 13,000 m² of space in four exhibition halls. Discussion topics will range from EU energy policy and local government roles in energy transformation, to nuclear energy applications in industry, medicine, and transmission network security in 2025.

The summit will also address Poland’s EU Council presidency challenges and the security of energy and critical infrastructure. Held under the honorary patronage of the Polish Ministry of Industry, the event offers participants the chance to explore industry leaders« investment plans, build valuable connections, and expand their expertise. We strongly invite you to be part of this event. Visit the webpage: https://powerconnect.pl/en/

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East Front News is a weekly newsletter and article on Defence24.com summarizing the past week’s most important events concerning security and the situation in the Central and Eastern Europe region. It includes original opinions and comments, along with key news items significant from a Polish perspective.

Aleksander Olech, PhD & Jakub Palowski, Deputy Ed. in Chief, Michał Górski