NATO summit in the Hague: Selenskyj’s new ways in war against Russia

How much Ukraine aid does NATO allow US President Donald Trump? At the first summit of the alliance in Trump’s second term, Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj can have little hope for further abundant support, especially in the war against Russia.

Merz: Germany must show “strength and reliability”

Before the NATO summit, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) assured Germany’s willingness to assume more responsibility in the alliance. In his government declaration in the Bundestag, he confirmed the goal of making the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in Europe and wanting to strengthen the NATO east flank with the stationing of a brigade in Lithuania. “Germany is back on the European and the international stage,” said the Chancellor.

Rutte to Selenskyj: Don’t worry

Nevertheless, NATO general secretary Mark Rutte tried to take the worries. The Dutch assured that significant decisions are planned at the top of the 32 Allies. This builds on the decisions of the summit in Washington last year. There it was stated that the path of Ukraine to NATO membership was irreversible. The bridge is being built there, said Rutte.

However, this will not be mentioned in the final declaration of the Hague summit. According to the German Press Agency, it only says: “The Allies reaffirm their permanent sovereign obligations to support Ukraine, the security of which contributes to our own.”

The resistance of Trump is against a renewed mention of the Ukrainian ambitions. This still hopes to end the Russian attack war on February 24, 2022 by concessions to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. One of them is that Ukraine should give up accession for an armistice for the time being.

Selenskyj: Invested in our armaments companies

Selenskyj increased in NATO countries for the expansion of the Ukrainian armaments industry. Before the start of the summit, he spoke of production capacities of $ 35 billion (around 30.4 billion euros), but a solid financing for 40 percent was missing.

“Please increase your investments in joint weapon production in Ukraine and all weapons we produce are part of a new and stronger European system of security and defense,” said Selenskyj.

Selenskyj and Trump only see themselves in royal food

Also on a US request, Selenskyj was only invited to a festival in the castle of the Dutch King Willem-Alexander and not to a joint working session for the summit. Washington also prevented a concrete NATO commitment for new military aids.

At the summit last year, the Allied security support worth 40 billion euros had promised for the year and in the end even provided around 50 billion euros.

Rutte tried to present this as unproblematic on Tuesday and pointed out that Allies had already promised security support worth around 35 billion euros this year.

NATO destination for defense spending should increase to five percent

On Wednesday, the Member States want to decide that each Member State increases defense expenditure to five percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035. At least 3.5 percent of GDP should be eliminated on classic military spending. In addition, expenses for fighting terrorism or military -usable infrastructure will be credited.

Chancellor sees no willingness to peace at Putin

The Chancellor criticized that Putin showed no readiness for peace. He again campaigned for further tightening the sanctions against Russia. He showed himself “confident” that the US government also goes this way. “Putin only understands the language of strength,” he emphasized.

Merz and France’s President Emmanuel Macron emphasized their determination to defend freedom and security in Europe in a joint guest post for the “Financial Times”. The biggest threat to Europe’s stability is based on Russia, which then strives to destabilize European countries and to question the world order.

Merz sentenced the youngest Russian air strikes to Ukraine. “A real, permanent peace requires peace of peace from all sides,” said the CDU politician in his government declaration. “With its new wave of attacks on the Ukrainian civilian population, Russia, on the other hand, has to understand in a barbaric way that it does not currently have this willingness to peace.”