December 8, 06:54 AM • 10943 viewsDecember 4, 02:10 PM • 61806 viewsAt the NATO summit in The Hague, an increase in defense spending to 5% of GDP is being discussed, causing controversy among member states. Ukraine remains on the periphery, and its Euro-Atlantic integration is effectively frozen due to the position of Trump and Germany.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament on June 24 at the invitation of the majority of members. This will be his third address to Dutch parliamentarians, following a video call in 2022 and a visit to the Senate a year later.
The international arbitration tribunal obliged Gazprom to pay NJSC "Naftogaz" 1. 37 billion dollars due to violations of contractual obligations. This decision is an important victory for Ukraine.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed their position on US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, stating that US actions comply with international law. Rutte also expressed concern about Iran's possible possession of nuclear weapons.
Concerns about a possible Russian attack on NATO countries are growing among Alliance members, who predict such a possibility in 3-7 years. NATO Secretary General Rutte emphasized the urgent need for a significant increase in defense budgets and strengthening of armies, and also drew attention to China's growing military power.
European and Canadian NATO allies have increased military aid to Ukraine from 20 to over 35 billion euros for the current year. This decision, made on the eve of the NATO summit in The Hague, was supported by Kyiv's allied countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles at Windsor Castle ahead of the NATO summit. This is the third meeting between the leaders in 2025, a demonstration of support from the United Kingdom.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Great Britain, where he will meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, King Charles III, and the speakers of both houses of parliament. Discussions are focused on securing more air defense systems for Ukraine and strengthening sanctions against Russia.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has canceled his participation in the NATO summit in The Hague due to "various circumstances," including the unlikelihood of meetings in the Indo-Pacific Quad format and with US President Donald Trump. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will still attend the event.
On June 24-25, a NATO summit will be held in The Hague, where the main issues will be a new defense budget of 5% of GDP and the war in Ukraine. Spain has expressed reluctance to increase spending, and a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council is not planned.
New Zealand has announced an aid package for Ukraine totaling 16 million New Zealand dollars, equivalent to over 9 million US dollars. These funds are intended for military and humanitarian aid, as well as to support Ukrainians displaced to neighboring countries.
Donald Trump plans to meet with leaders of Indo-Pacific countries during the NATO summit in the Netherlands to expand security cooperation. The meeting will discuss coordination of actions and defense spending, which NATO plans to increase to 3.5% of GDP, and with additional indicators to 5%.
Spain has agreed with NATO to be exempt from the requirement to spend 5% of GDP on defense, which Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called "disproportionate and unnecessary. " The country claims it can fulfill its obligations by spending 2.1% of GDP and had the lowest share of defense spending in the Alliance last year - 1.28% of GDP.
European NATO allies are concerned about the rapid withdrawal of US troops from Europe amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. After the summit, allies will pledge to spend 5% of GDP on defense, then the US will present a military review.
A meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council at the Alliance summit in The Hague is not planned. Donald Trump only expects an increase in defense spending from Alliance member countries.
Donald Trump will demand that NATO member countries increase defense spending to 5% of GDP. Some countries, such as Spain, are already expressing disagreement with these demands, while others are trying to please Trump to maintain the Alliance's unity amid the war in Ukraine.
The Trump administration demands Asian allies, including South Korea, spend up to 5% of GDP on defense. This could lead to significant increases in defense budgets and disputes over their military presence.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, ahead of the NATO summit, expressed doubt about the feasibility of the continued existence of the North Atlantic Alliance, emphasizing the need to adapt to changed conditions. He believes that "times have changed" and called on NATO to cooperate with the Global South, and also noted the decreasing influence of the European Union.
The Latvian Saeima approved a statement in support of Ukraine's earliest invitation to NATO ahead of the summit in The Hague. Inviting Ukraine to the Alliance will be a significant signal of its clear path to membership.
Spain is blocking a new NATO agreement to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, as demanded by Donald Trump. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez considers the commitment "unreasonable and counterproductive," which has angered other members of the Alliance.
EU countries have agreed to increase the European Investment Bank's annual lending limit to €100 billion and triple financing for the defense industry. The bank also plans to invest €70 billion in technological innovation and renewable energy sources.
A large-scale operation "Orange Shield" has begun in The Hague to ensure the security of the NATO summit. 27,000 police officers and 10,000 soldiers are involved, streets are blocked and traffic is restricted.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will take part in the NATO summit in The Hague and will meet with the Secretary General of the Alliance and European leaders. Zelenskyy's participation will involve changes in diplomatic rank to avoid awkward encounters with Trump.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is cutting jobs at the world's most powerful military alliance as part of a major restructuring.
Spain will not support NATO's proposal to raise the target for defense spending to 5% of GDP. The country considers the current 2% sufficient and will block the plan at the summit in The Hague.
The NATO summit in The Hague will last only two and a half hours due to Trump's desire to shorten meetings. Zelensky was invited, but with a diplomatic demotion to avoid meetings with Trump.
Ukraine will not receive an invitation to NATO at the summit in The Hague next week. The issue is not on the agenda, no breakthrough decisions are expected.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Mark Rutte to coordinate ahead of the NATO summit. They discussed the needs of Ukrainian soldiers, especially in air defense systems.
Ruslan Kravchenko intends to ensure the collection of evidence for the International Criminal Court in The Hague regarding the crimes of Russia. He has 11 years of experience in the prosecutor's office.
Ruslan Kravchenko stated about the restoration of the role of the prosecutor's office, the return of trust and justice in every case. He promises the inevitability of punishment and the collection of evidence for The Hague.
