On June 4, 2025—57 in all including all NATO members—a conference will convene in Brussels. They will unite to fight new military assistance to Ukraine. This annual meeting couldn’t come at a more urgent time. With the war against Russia still raging, Ukraine is obviously committed to doing everything it can to guard against any further aggression. The United States has reiterated its unwavering commitment to both Ukraine and NATO, emphasizing the importance of collective defense efforts.
Last week British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to provide Ukraine with 100,000 drones in the coming year, beginning on April 1. This decision is emblematic of a larger, more comprehensive strategy to strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities. On top of this, the UK government is committing £247 million to train Ukrainian troops under Operation Interflex. By 2025, Britain has supplied 140,000 artillery shells to Ukraine. This support is vital to Ukraine achieving its ambitious goal of receiving 3 million shells from its allies this year.
At the same time, Ukraine is trying to increase domestic production to around 2.5 million shells and mortars in that same period. Self-reliance is absolutely the key. Russia has a public goal of producing 3-4 million drones, showcasing the extreme drone arms race between the two countries.
The meeting in Brussels follows closely on the heels of major changes on the ground. Ukraine’s SBU security service recently detonated a bomb on one of the underwater pillars of the Kerch Bridge, which connects the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula to Russia. The bombing significantly damaged the bridge and underscored the long-standing discord over the region.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the attack, saying there “had been an explosion.” He added, “Nothing was damaged. The bridge is working.”
As NATO’s secretary general, Rutte became the chief cheerleader for raising defense spending among European and Canadian allies. At various points during his address, he stressed the need for European and Canadian allies to spend much more. For one, we need to increase our own investments, not just in order to meet all of these capability goals, but to fill current gaps. This groundwork will be key in fending off Russian strikes over the coming three to five-year period, as well as making sure we can keep pace with the United States. I think that is only fair.
The United States has announced there are no current plans to withdraw troops from Europe, ensuring continued support for NATO allies amidst heightened tensions. Ukraine, meanwhile, is continuing to deepen its integration with NATO. The country has already accepted an invitation to the next summit in The Hague, Netherlands, later this month.