Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap!
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said Europe “needs to ramp up our defence spending,” noting the German chief of defence’s comments that Russia could be ready by 2029 or 2030 to test Nato’s resolve in defending its territory. “We are safe now. We are not safe three to five years from now, so we have to spend more,” he said (15:20).
Ukrainain president Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised Russia’s Vladimir Putin for “willing to pay for their sick geopolitical fantasies” with the lives of over one million Russians killed in the war so far (10:27).
Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said the continued Russian attacks show that “Vladimir Putin of Russia is mocking the peace efforts of president Donald Trump,” as he joined other European leaders in calls to ramp up defence spending (12:50).
But Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani said his country needs “at least 10 years” to raise defence spending and comply with new targets to be agreed by Nato (12:46).
I will be back tomorrow with more updates from across Europe.
But for now, that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at [email protected].
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
European ministers ready to step up pressure on Russia'
The ministers also adopted a statement at the end of their talks, saying they were ready to step up pressure on Russia, “including through further sanctions” involving the energy and banking sector, to weaken Moscow in its war with Ukraine, Reuters reported.
“We reiterated our readiness to step up our pressure on Russia as it continues to refuse serious and credible commitments, including through further sanctions and countering their circumvention,” the foreign ministers’ statement said.
“We are prepared to enhance our support, including through improving defence industrial cooperation with Ukraine, and exploring additional forms of security and defence cooperation,” the statement said, without elaborating.
