Ukraine Leader: 'Europe Must Build Its Own Army'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a European security summit on Tuesday that the continent must stop depending on the United States for its defense. Speaking at the Bucharest Nine meeting—a group of nine Eastern European NATO countries—Zelenskyy warned that Europe’s security cannot be left to "changing geopolitical moods." "We need a European defense that is independent and strong," Zelenskyy said. He argued that relying on Washington's shifting political priorities leaves the region vulnerable. The Ukrainian leader urged the nine nations to increase their own military spending and production, rather than waiting for guarantees from allies across the Atlantic. The Bucharest Nine includes Romania, Poland, and the Baltic states—countries that feel the most direct threat from Russia. Zelenskyy’s message comes as some Western leaders question long-term U.S. commitment to NATO. His call for self-sufficiency is a stark warning: Europe must prepare to defend itself, or risk its own security.