Yesterday, at Palazzo Aeronautica in Rome, the fourth meeting of the E5 Group took place, followed by a joint press conference. The event brought together Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto and his counterparts from France (Sébastien Lecornu), Germany (Boris Pistorius), Poland (Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz), and the United Kingdom (John Healey). Also attending were Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defense and Space; Charles Fries, NATO Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security and Defense; and Francois-Marie Gougeon, Acting Assistant Secretary General.

The Rome meeting followed previous sessions held in Berlin (November 2024), Warsaw (January 2025), and Paris (March 2025), reaffirming the five nations' commitment to enhanced cooperation and strategic dialogue in the defense domain. The E5 format—an informal but increasingly structured initiative—emerged in response to the evolving geopolitical landscape, with the aim of reinforcing both political and military coordination, particularly regarding support for Ukraine and the development of European defense capabilities. It represents a meaningful step toward achieving greater strategic autonomy for Europe, while preserving strong ties with NATO and the European Union.

The core topic of the meeting, and the subsequent press conference, was Ukraine, with a focus on coordinated support efforts at a pivotal moment for European stability. As Minister Crosetto noted, the Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister joined the first session to provide an update on the battlefield situation. Much of the discussion, however, focused on preparing for possible ceasefire scenarios, with Crosetto underlining the need to “avoid being caught off guard” and to “maintain tight coordination on support measures for Kyiv, eliminating duplication and maximizing the impact of joint efforts.”

Beyond Ukraine, the ministers also addressed broader topics such as European defense integration, security challenges in the Western Balkans, and the need to strengthen the European pillar of the Alliance, conceived as a project extending beyond the EU-27. Specific gaps were identified in areas critical to credible strategic autonomy—space, air and missile defense, and command and control—with agreement that a faster, more decisive pace is required to avoid losing strategic relevance. On cybersecurity and hybrid threats, the ministers stressed the urgency of adopting a coordinated European approach, including through the creation of dedicated structures.

Minister Crosetto also emphasized that any ceasefire initiative must involve the United States, highlighting that “no realistic solution can be achieved without Washington.” He further noted that the E5, despite being composed of nations with different histories, cultures, and political perspectives, is “united by a shared understanding of the threats, a common strategic vision, and the determination to build a strong European defense”—a stance that, he added, “will earn greater respect from the U.S. when we demonstrate the capacity to assume real responsibility.”

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stressed that the failure of negotiations in Istanbul proves that “Putin has no intention of ending the war,” making it essential to continue Europe's military support to Ukraine. He also emphasized the importance of planning for the post-ceasefire regeneration of the Ukrainian Armed Forces—both in terms of training and equipment—as well as the theoretical framework for monitoring a potential truce, including responsibilities and scope. Germany, he added, is ready to contribute in air and maritime defense, but warned that “time is short—speed matters more than GDP percentages.”

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu echoed the sense of urgency, focusing on the financial challenges of rapidly regenerating Ukraine’s forces in both the short and medium term. He confirmed that the ministers discussed the potential use of frozen Russian assets to support this effort. Lecornu also identified space capabilities and early warning systems as key areas requiring joint investment. On the UK's post-Brexit role, he made clear that “Brexit should not impact security matters,” given their overarching importance. As for France’s nuclear deterrent, Lecornu reiterated that it is “conceptually extended to Europe” and “contributes to NATO and European security in accordance with European treaties.” Minister Crosetto echoed this view, clarifying that Italy has no current interest in developing a national nuclear deterrent, historically relying instead on the United States, as well as France and the UK.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey reaffirmed that “European security starts in Ukraine,” stressing the need to position Kyiv as strongly as possible ahead of any negotiations. Regarding the monitoring of a future ceasefire, Healey stated that the UK has offered to provide troops in Ukraine, as part of a broader international presence, and that such an operation is “already planned and scheduled,” contingent on the achievement of a truce.

Polish Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz underscored that the E5 includes “the five European countries with the greatest military capabilities,” a group that seeks to “lead by example.” He confirmed that Poland will continue to serve as a logistics hub for Ukraine-related operations, but reiterated that no Polish troops will be sent to Ukraine. On European rearmament, he called for increased defense spending to strengthen both EU and transatlantic ties, in order to be seen as reliable partners by Washington. Of note was his closing comment on the possible deployment of French nuclear weapons on Polish soil under the recently signed Franco-Polish Security Guarantees Treaty. While the agreement includes a broad range of bilateral commitments—defense, economy, and industry—Kosiniak-Kamysz acknowledged that it could lead to further discussions on nuclear deployment, to be explored at an upcoming bilateral summit.

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