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First Post
24-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
What one can expect at Nato's Hague Summit
Leaders from 32 nations are set to meet on Tuesday (June 24) at the Nato Summit in The Hague, Netherlands. While they are expected to take a new defence spending pledge, the organisation will be looking at several other issues which will include the situation in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Iran read more Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks during a media conference prior to a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the Nato headquarters in Brussels. AP US President Donald Trump and his Nato counterparts are due to gather on Tuesday (June 24) for a summit that could unite the world's biggest security organization around a new defence spending pledge or widen divisions among the 32 allies. Just a week ago, things had seemed rosy. Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte was optimistic the European members and Canada would commit to invest at least as much of their economic growth on defence as the United States does for the first time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Then Spain rejected the new Nato target for each country to spend 5 per cent of its gross domestic product on defence needs, calling it 'unreasonable.' Trump also insists on that figure. The alliance operates on a consensus that requires the backing of all 32 members. The following day, Trump said the US should not have to respect the goal. 'I don't think we should, but I think they should,' he said. Trump lashed out at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government, saying, 'Nato is going to have to deal with Spain. Spain's been a very low payer.' He also criticized Canada as 'a low payer.' Spain was the lowest spender in the alliance last year, directing less than 2 per cent of its GDP on defence expenditure, while Canada was spending 1.45 per cent , according to Nato figures. Then Trump ordered the bombing of nuclear installations in Iran. In 2003, the US-led war on Iraq deeply divided Nato, as France and Germany led opposition to the attack, while Britain and Spain joined the coalition. European allies and Canada also want Ukraine to be at the top of the summit agenda, but they are wary that Trump might not want President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to steal the limelight. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A short summit, decades of mutual security The two-day summit in The Hague involves an informal dinner on Tuesday and one working session on Wednesday morning. A very short summit statement has been drafted to ensure the meeting is not derailed by fights over details and wording. Indeed, much about this Nato summit is brief, even though ripples could be felt for years. Founded in 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) was formed by 12 nations to counter the threat to security in Europe posed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, notably via a strong US presence on the continent. Dealing with Moscow is in its DNA. Keeping the peace outside the Euro-Atlantic area is not. Security ahead of the Nato Summit in The Hague, Netherlands. AP Nato's ranks have grown to 32 countries since the Washington Treaty was signed 75 years ago. Sweden joined last year, worried by an increasingly aggressive Russia. Nato's collective security guarantee — Article 5 of the treaty — underpins its credibility. It's a political commitment by all countries to come to the aid of any member whose sovereignty or territory might be under attack. Trump has suggested he is committed to that pledge, but he has also sowed doubt about his intentions. He has said the US intends to remain a member of the alliance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A civilian runs Nato, but the US and its military hold power The United States is Nato's most powerful member. It spends much more on defence than any other ally and far outweighs its partners in terms of military muscle. Washington has traditionally driven the agenda but has stepped back under Trump. The US nuclear arsenal provides strategic deterrence against would-be adversaries. Nato's day-to-day work is led by Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister. As its top civilian official, he chairs almost weekly meetings of ambassadors in the North Atlantic Council at its Brussels headquarters. He chairs other 'NACs' at ministerial and leader levels. Rutte runs Nato headquarters , trying to foster consensus and speak on behalf of all members. Nato's military headquarters is based nearby in Mons, Belgium. It is always run by a top US officer. Ukraine's role at the summit is unclear With Trump demanding greater defence spending, it's unclear what role Ukraine will play at the summit. Zelenskyy has been invited , but it's unclear whether he will have a seat at Nato's table, although he may take part in Tuesday's dinner. Russia's war in Ukraine usually dominates such meetings. More broadly, Nato itself is not arming Ukraine. As an organisation, it possesses no weapons of any kind. Collectively, it provides only non-lethal support — fuel, combat rations, medical supplies, body armour and equipment to counter drones or mines. Belgium's PM Alexander De Croo (right) and Belgium's Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder (left) with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in front of F-16 in Brussels. File image/AP But individually, members do send arms. European allies provided 60 per cent of the military support that Ukraine received in 2024. Nato coordinates those weapons deliveries via a hub on the Polish border and helps organise training for Ukrainian troops. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nato's troop plans A key part of the commitment for allies to defend one another is to deter Russia, or any other adversary, from attacking in the first place. Finland and Sweden joined Nato recently because of this concern. Under Nato's new military plans, 300,000 military personnel would be deployed within 30 days to counter any attack, whether it be on land, at sea, by air or in cyberspace. However experts doubt whether the allies could muster the troop numbers. It's not just about troop and equipment numbers. An adversary would be less likely to challenge Nato if it thought the allies would use the forces it controls. Trump's threats against US allies — including imposing tariffs on them — have weakened that deterrence. The US is carrying the biggest military burden Due to high US defense spending over many years, the American armed forces have more personnel and superior weapons but also significant transportation and logistics assets. Other allies are starting to spend more, though. After years of cuts, Nato members committed to ramp up their national defense budgets in 2014 when Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Nato allies agreed to make 2 per cent of GDP the minimum spending level. Last year, 22 countries were expected to hit that target, up from only three a decade ago. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In The Hague, the allies were expected to up the ante to 3.5 per cent, plus a further 1.5 per cent for things like improving roads, bridges, ports and airfields or preparing societies to deal with future conflicts. Whether they will now remains an open question.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada announces new aid to Ukraine worth approximately US$25.5 million
Canada is providing Ukraine with military aid worth over 35 million Canadian dollars (approximately US$25.5 million). Source: Canada's Defence Ministry press service, as reported by European Pravda Details: Canadian Defence Minister David J. McGuinty took part in the 28th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein Format). At the meeting, McGuinty announced that Canada is providing Ukraine with military aid worth 35 million Canadian dollars. He said that 30 million Canadian dollars (US$21.9 million) will be spent on Coyote and Bison armoured personnel carriers, as well as new equipment and ammunition from Canadian companies. This is in addition to the previous transfer of 64 Coyote armoured vehicles, which arrived in Ukraine in December 2024. Another 5 million Canadian dollars (US$3.6 million) will go towards electronic warfare kits from the Canadian defence industry. Background: At the 28th Ramstein meeting, held at NATO headquarters, Ukraine and its partner countries agreed to create a defence production mechanism. The US secretary of defence ignored the Ramstein meeting for the first time. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Transfer of Ramstein leadership to UK and Germany was planned by US
The United States' decision to relinquish leadership of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in the Ramstein format to the United Kingdom and Germany was planned from the outset of the new US administration. Source: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced this following a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on 4 June, as reported by a European Pravda correspondent Details: Hegseth told reporters that the transfer of leadership of the Ramstein format to Germany and the UK had been planned by the United States since President Donald Trump's administration took office. "From the very beginning of this administration, we worked with our British and German counterparts for them to take the lead of that contact group, which they have done. And I appreciate that," Hegseth said. He added that the United States continues to participate in the Ramstein format, noting that the US was represented at the 4 June meeting by US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker. "I believe you were at the meeting?" Hegseth asked Whitaker. "I'm at all the meetings, yes," the diplomat replied. "We've definitely been at that meeting and made a contribution," the US defence secretary concluded. Background: It was previously reported that Hegseth did not attend the Ramstein format meeting at NATO Headquarters on 4 June. On 4 June, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, commenting on the potential threat to US forces from enemy drones and Ukraine's special operation Spider's Web, stated that the United States was learning lessons from Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Qatar Tribune
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Ukraine allies pledge continued support
dpa Brussels Defence ministers from the Ukraine Defence Contact Group pledged further support for Ukraine on Wednesday despite the absence of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth from the meeting. The talks, once led by the United States, are chaired by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and UK Defence Secretary John Healey and aim to coordinate and raise further military support for Kiev. The format, also dubbed the Ramstein Group, comprises around 50 countries and was initiated by former US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin to help Ukraine defend itself from a full-scale Russian attack. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced a new support package for maritime security worth €400 million ($457 million). The package will include over 100 vessels, like patrol boats, transport boats, interceptors, special operations craft, over 50 sea drones, weapon systems, reserve parts and training, Brekelmans said. Ukraine's European allies are under increased pressure to step up aid after Washington suspended US military aid to Kiev and put its commitment to safeguarding Europe into question. Hegseth did not attend the meeting, after Washington had previously made clear that it no longer wants to lead the pledging meetings. Pistorius said that so far there was no indication that Washington's decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine was final.
Belfast Telegraph
04-06-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Zelensky calls Russia peace proposal an ‘ultimatum' and demands talks with Putin
Both sides exchanged memorandums setting out their conditions for a ceasefire for discussion at Monday's direct peace talks between delegations in Istanbul, their second meeting in just over two weeks. Both sides have established red lines that make any quick deal unlikely. Mr Zelensky said that the second round of talks in Istanbul were no different from the first meeting on May 16. He described the latest negotiations in Istanbul as 'a political performance' and 'artificial diplomacy' designed to stall for time, delay sanctions and convince the United States that Russia is engaged in dialogue. 'The same ultimatums they voiced back then – now they just put them on paper … Honestly, this document looks like spam. It's spam meant to flood us and create the impression that they're doing something,' Mr Zelensky said in his first reaction to the Russian document. He added that the 2025 talks in Istanbul carry 'the same content and spirit' as the fruitless negotiations held in the Turkish city in the early days of the war. The Ukrainian leader said that he sees little value in continuing talks at the current level of delegations. Defence minister Rustem Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, while Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Mr Putin, headed the Russian team. Mr Zelensky said he wants a ceasefire with Russia before a possible summit meeting with Mr Putin, possibly also including US President Donald Trump, in an effort to remove obstacles to a peace settlement. The US has led a recent diplomatic push to stop the full-scale invasion, which began on February 24 2022. 'We are proposing … a ceasefire before a leaders' summit,' with the US acting as a mediator, Mr Zelensky told a media briefing in Kyiv. 'Why a ceasefire before the leaders' meeting? Because if we meet and there is no mutual understanding, no willingness or vision on how to end this, then the ceasefire would end that same day. But if we see readiness to continue the dialogue and take real steps toward de-escalation, then the ceasefire would be extended with US mediation guarantees,' he said. Ukraine is ready to meet at any time from next Monday at a venue such as Istanbul, the Vatican or Switzerland, Mr Zelensky said. A second round of peace talks on Monday between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul lasted just over an hour and made no progress on ending the war. They agreed only to swap thousands of their dead and seriously wounded troops. Also, a new prisoner exchange with Russia could take place over the weekend, Mr Zelensky said. Also on Wednesday, Mr Zelensky also urged Western backers to speed up deliveries of air defence systems to counter Russian missile strikes and to help boost weapons production. The emphasis should be on US-made Patriot systems, he told a Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting at Nato headquarters in Brussels. 'These are the most effective way to force Russia to stop its missile strikes and terror,' he said via video link, urging representatives of around 50 countries to make good on past pledges. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth did not attend, the first time a Pentagon chief has been absent since the forum for organising Ukraine's military aid was set up three years ago. Mr Hegseth's predecessor, Lloyd Austin, created the group after Russia launched its all-out war on Ukraine. His absence is the latest step that the Trump administration has taken to distance itself from Ukraine's efforts to repel Russia. More than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, according to UN estimates, as well as tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides. Mr Zelensky also appealed to the participants to buy weapons direct from Ukraine. 'Ukrainian industry still has significant untapped capacity, it just needs financing,' he said, underlining that a funding gap for weapons procurement amounts to about 18 billion dollars (£13 billion). The UK, which chaired the meeting along with Germany, said it plans a tenfold increase in drone production to help Ukraine. Drones have become a decisive factor in the war, now in its fourth year. Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene said that 'you recognise true friends not during a party, but when you do have difficult times. So therefore, our continuation of support for Ukraine and increasing it is of utmost importance'. Since the contact group was formed, Ukraine's backers have collectively provided around 126 billion dollars (£93 billion) in weapons and military assistance, including more than 66.5 billion dollars (£49 billion) from the US. The US has not chaired a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group since the Trump administration took office in January. European Nato allies are concerned that the US might withdraw troops from Europe to focus on the Indo-Pacific. French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that abandoning Ukraine would erode US credibility in deterring any conflict with China over Taiwan.
