European countries have pledged to increase their military aid to Ukraine, bridging the gap left by the US aid freeze. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced that European allies and Canada have committed $35 billion in military support to Ukraine this year, with some estimates suggesting the figure could reach $40 billion. This development comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his ambition to absorb all of Ukraine into the Russian Federation.
Putin’s statement on June 20 at the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum underscored his long-held view that “the Russian and Ukrainian people are one nation, in fact. In this sense, all of Ukraine is ours.” He also invoked an “old parable” saying, “wherever a Russian soldier steps, it is ours.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded sharply, stating, “Wherever a Russian soldier steps, he brings only death, destruction, and devastation.”
The increase in European aid comes as Ukraine faces intensified Russian attacks. According to Ukraine’s General Staff, Russia launched approximately 200 assaults daily during the week of the NATO summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that his country is fighting 695,000 Russian troops on its territory, with another 52,000 attempting to create a new front in Sumy, northeast Ukraine.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump indicated he might consider selling Patriot interceptors to Ukraine, saying, “We’re going to see if we can make some available.”
However, he noted the difficulty in obtaining these systems, adding, “We need them too, and we’ve been supplying them to Israel.” Russia has made a ceasefire conditional on Ukraine’s allies stopping the flow of weapons, a condition reiterated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
NATO allies, including Germany, have agreed to raise defence spending to 5% of gross domestic product by 2035. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the need for increased defence spending, stating, “We in Germany ignored the warnings of our Baltic neighbours about Russia for too long. We have recognised this mistake.” Mark Rutte assured that NATO remains committed to keeping Ukraine in the fight, despite earlier suggestions that NATO membership for Ukraine might not be a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement.
Ukraine is focusing on long-range weapons production, including drones that have attacked Russian targets. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin revealed that thousands of drones have been launched toward Moscow, with air defences shooting almost all of them down.
The UK has announced a partnership with Ukraine to improve British-made drones using “technology datasets from Ukraine’s front line”. Norway will produce surface drones in Ukraine using Norwegian technology.
Ukraine’s bid to join NATO and the EU faces challenges, particularly from Slovakia, which has vetoed the EU’s move to open new chapters in membership negotiations and blocked an 18th sanctions package against Russia.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has hinted at the possibility of leaving NATO, citing the benefits of neutrality. Ukrainian leaders continue to push for international support, both militarily and in their bid for membership in Western clubs.
As the conflict rages on, Zelenskyy has urged the establishment of a special tribunal to try top Russian officials for war crimes, signing an accord with the Council of Europe. The situation on the ground remains dire, with Russia continuing its campaign of demoralization among Ukrainian civilians, sending drones and missiles into Ukraine’s cities, resulting in significant civilian casualties.