U.S. Pushing Allies To Limit Focus On Ukraine In NATO Summit Communique
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The United States is pressuring European allies to limit references to Ukraine in the final communique that comes out of next week's NATO summit, according to several sources, a symbolic move that would signal a drop in support for Kyiv under President Donald Trump.
Trump administration officials have pushed NATO allies to agree to limit mentions of Ukraine in the communique, the document issued at the conclusion of the annual conference that lays out the security alliance's priorities, according to multiple sources in Washington and Europe who are familiar with the negotiations.
The current draft of the summit's communique only includes one passing mention of Ukraine's defense capabilities and does not include a broad statement of support for Kyiv, a European official who viewed the draft told Newsweek.
If the draft is approved by the U.S. and other NATO members, it would represent a break from the strong statements of support for Ukraine issued at the end of the NATO summits that took place under former President Joe Biden after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
"People in Moscow, Beijing and in other major capitals of the world look carefully at how the United States and NATO characterize the international security situation," said Jeff Rathke, the president of the American-German Institute at Johns Hopkins University. "If NATO backs away from what it has previously committed to [at the summit], it's a signal of weakness that will very much be picked up on."
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) speaks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during the European Political Community (EPC) summit, in Tirana, Albania on May 16.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) speaks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during the European Political Community (EPC) summit, in Tirana, Albania on May 16.
Adnan Beci/AFP via Getty Images
NATO members are expected to take some steps at the summit to show support for Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called on member states to increase their annual defense spending to deter Russia.
The alliance is expected to announce new spending targets of 5 percent at the summit, several sources said. The figure would consist of 3.5 percent spending on core defense programs, and 1.5 percent on military-related infrastructure and logistics. The plan represents a significant victory for Trump, who has long called on NATO members to step up their defense spending.
In recent months the United Kingdom, France, and other countries have also pledged greater military aid to Ukraine, which has relied on Western support in its fight against Russia.
The aid has raised tensions between European and the U.S. since Trump took office vowing to bring a swift end to the war in Ukraine.
The administration brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, but the negotiations haven't resulted in any meaningful breakthroughs so far. Trump has expressed frustration with both countries for failing to reach a deal, but he has more frequently criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky than Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It remains unclear if Trump will back a Senate bill to impose new sanctions on Moscow, or if Trump would support a new military aid package for Ukraine once the current funding for Kyiv runs out.
The White House did not immediately respond to a Newsweek request for comment.
A final NATO summit communique that barely mentions Ukraine would be a marked contrast from the statements put out by the security alliance over the past several years. The alliance expressed unequivocal support for Ukraine at the conclusion of the annual summit last year, which was hosted by the Biden administration in Washington.
"Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has shattered peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and gravely undermined global security," the 2024 communique said. NATO pledged in the document to "bolster our long-term support to Ukraine so it can prevail in its fight for freedom."
Ukrainian officials said they hoped NATO allies would prioritize Ukraine at the summit without angering Trump, who has spent the past week focused on the escalating war between Israel and Iran.
"They're thinking about how to diplomatically promote Ukraine at the NATO Summit and how to not antagonize Trump. It's a difficult challenge," Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of Ukraine's parliament, told Newsweek. He added, "In the final communique, I'd like to see something said about supporting Ukraine."
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