6 months ago
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(NewsNation) — The caput of NATO is expected to talk with President Donald Trump successful Washington, D.C., connected Thursday.
The gathering with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte comes conscionable days aft Trump called connected European allies to lend much to the alliance's defence fund. Trump past week publically called for different countries to springiness up to 5% of their GDP.
Trump has made it wide helium wants NATO countries to wage overmuch much than the 2% commitment decided upon much than a decennary ago. In 2024, an estimated 23 of 32 countries were projected to conscionable that goal.
Rutte, who served arsenic premier curate of the Netherlands during Trump's archetypal term, has besides supported expanding NATO members' backing expectations.
"Our mindset has to beryllium that we are consenting to support each inch of NATO territory ... If we would instrumentality to the 2%, we cannot support ourselves successful 4 oregon 5 years. We person to walk more," Rutte said during a Feb. 12 quality conference.
Last week, Trump suggested the U.S. should not person to support NATO allies helium believes person not contributed capable to defence spending.
Elon Musk, 1 of Trump's apical advisers, said successful a societal media station that the U.S. should withdraw from NATO altogether and garbage to money Europe's defense.
The United States typically spends astir 3% of its GDP connected defense, meaning a large summation successful Pentagon backing would beryllium needed for the federation to conscionable Trump's ain standards.
Russia mulls imaginable ceasefire with Ukraine
Thursday's speech comes connected the heels of a tentative ceasefire deal successful the Russia-Ukraine war.
Ukraine connected Monday agreed to judge a woody for a impermanent ceasefire with Russia successful speech for the U.S. resuming quality sharing and security assistance.
Russia has reportedly fixed the U.S. a database of demands indispensable to extremity its warfare against Ukraine, 2 radical acquainted with the substance told Reuters.
No specifics person been made public, but the White House has said everyone — Russia and Ukraine included — volition person to marque immoderate benignant of concession to scope a deal.
"People are going to Russia close now, arsenic we speak, and hopefully we tin get a cease occurrence from Russia. And if we do, I deliberation that would beryllium 80% of the mode to getting this horrible bloodbath finished," Trump told reporters successful the Oval Office connected Wednesday.
Those headed to Moscow see Steve Witkoff, peculiar envoy to the Middle East, NewsNation has learned. It volition beryllium his 2nd travel to Russia this year; the archetypal secured the merchandise of Marc Fogel.
Ukraine has repeatedly sought NATO membership, though Russia has vehemently opposed the move.
"The Alliance afloat supports Ukraine’s inherent close to self-defence, and its close to take its ain information arrangements. Ukraine’s aboriginal is successful NATO," the organization's Ukraine relations website reads.
