After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and mounting pressure from the United States, the European Union is confronting a question it long avoided: whether it is truly prepared to defend itself. Years of reliance on diplomacy and transatlantic guarantees are giving way to urgency as the war drags on and military leaders warn of wider risks. In Brussels, the mood has shifted from confidence to acceleration, with the bloc racing to strengthen its defense, industry, and strategic posture before time runs out.
