EU chief Ursula von der Leyen Tuesday presented a five-part plan to mobilise some 800 billion euros for Europe’s defence — and help provide “immediate” military support for Ukraine after Washington suspended aid. The move came hours after US President Donald Trump announced the aid freeze, intensifying Washington’s push for a peace deal with Russia and confirming its pivot away from its European allies and partners in backing Kyiv’s war effort. “A new era is upon us,” the European Commission president said in a letter presenting the plan to EU leaders, two days before a summit aimed at cementing joint action on support for Ukraine and boosting Europe’s defences. “‘ReArm Europe’ could mobilise close to 800 billion euros of defence expenditures for a safe and resilient Europe,” von der Leyen told reporters as she outlined the plan, which includes a 150-billion-euro loan facility along with steps to free up large-scale defence investments.

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