Ukraine signs security pacts with Germany, France – POLITICO

Despite that, the future of Ukraine’s successful defense “also depends on the United States,” the chancellor said, as he urged the U.S. Congress to approve a new multibillion-dollar aid package for Kyiv. Scholz also said that Germany was ramping up arms production to not only better support Ukraine but also ensure its own security. “If … Read more

Pay your 2 percent, UK’s Shapps tells NATO allies after Trump threat – POLITICO

The U.K. also announced a new plan Thursday to lead a coalition of 14 other European countries, including Turkey, on multinational defense procurement.  The two initiatives, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defence, “aim to increase defense industrial capacity across the Euro-Atlantic area, replenish stockpiles at pace, and continue support to Ukraine.” The U.S. and … Read more

Ukraine shouldn’t ‘expect a big leap forward’ at summit – POLITICO

Ukraine should not expect much progress on its membership bid at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington D.C., U.K. Ambassador to NATO  David Quarrey said. Members of the military alliance will gather in the U.S. capital from July 9-11, and while the question of Ukraine’s membership in NATO will likely be discussed, Quarrey said Kyiv should … Read more

Sweden will join NATO by July – POLITICO

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is confident Sweden will join the military alliance by July at the latest, he told German news agency DPA this week. The next NATO summit will be held in Washington from July 9-11 and the Nordic country will be a fully-fledged member by then, he said. Sweden and Finland abandoned decades … Read more