From 4 Jun 2025 14.32 BST Back to Brussels, opening the Ukraine Defense Contact Group’s meeting, UK defence secretary John Healey confirmed UK plans on drone deliveries for Ukraine. More broadly, he spoke about the need to continue supporting Ukraine as he stressed “this is not just Ukraine’s battle,” but “for the security of Europe, for our security today, tomorrow and for our future generations.” British Defence Secretary John Healey, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius attend a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, as a part of a Nato Defence Ministers’ meeting at the Alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters Share Updated at 15.04 BST

4 Jun 2025 18.00 BST Closing summary Donald Trump has said that he has just discussed the recent drone attacks by Ukraine on Russia and developments concerning Iran in a phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin that lasted over an hour. For more details, see our US politics live blog here.

British defence secretary John Healey on Wednesday said Britain would increase tenfold the number of drones it would deliver to Ukraine, aiming for 100,000 drones. Speaking ahead of a meeting by Nato defence ministers, Healey added that Russia could sustain its current rate of fire in Ukraine through the end of the year.

Ukraine’s allies said they were willing to pay for defence manufacturing by Ukrainian companies in allied countries , defence minister Rustem Umerov said on Wednesday, after meeting his western counterparts at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels.

The European Commission proposed on Wednesday extending temporary protection for Ukrainians who have sought refuge in the European Union until March 2027, underlining the need for flexibility as Russia’s war in Ukraine drags on. The Commission, the EU’s executive body, also proposed steps to help displaced Ukrainians return home when the war eventually ends.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said on Wednesday he met US secretary of state Marco Rubio in Washington DC during his visit there. “We discussed the situation at the frontline and the need to strengthen support for Ukraine in the area of air defence,” he wrote on Telegram.

German chancellor Friedrich Merz will tell US president Donald Trump on his upcoming visit that Europe is firmly on Ukraine’s side in its war with Russia and that no chance for peace must be passed up, Germany’s foreign minister said on Wednesday. “Europe expects us, the United States and Europe, to bring Russia to the negotiating table. This opportunity for peace must not be missed. And this war must finally be brought to a just end,” Johann Wadephul said at a news conference with his Polish counterpart.

Talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey were sobering, German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said on Wednesday, adding Germany was pushing for new sanctions against Moscow which should be coordinated with the United States. “What we experienced at the recent talks in Istanbul is sobering. The Russian side presented nothing more than familiar maximum demands. A willingness to engage in dialogue looks different,” Wadephul said at a news conference with his Polish counterpart.

Russia’s top state investigator said on Wednesday that Ukraine’s security services blew up bridges at the weekend in Bryansk and Kursk regions, crimes that he said killed seven people and injured 115 others. Alexander Bastrykin, the head of Russia’s investigative committee, said that the controlling devices for the bombs were manufactured in Ukraine. The explosives were foreign made, he said.

Russia should not fall for Ukraine’s criminal provocations, and should use negotiations and all means to achieve the goals of the military operation in Ukraine, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. After Lavrov’s remarks, President Vladimir Putin said: “I agree with this.”

The Polish defence ministry has confirmed media reports about unguarded containers containing ammunition and weapons which was found near an aero club in the town of Laszki in south-eastern Poland, less than 30km from the Ukrainian border. It stated that the containers did not belong to the Polish army.

The EU gave the green light on Wednesday for Bulgaria to adopt the euro from 1 January 2026, meaning it will become the 21st member of the single currency area, AFP reported. Share

4 Jun 2025 17.33 BST Ukraine’s allies said they were willing to pay for defence manufacturing by Ukrainian companies in allied countries, defence minister Rustem Umerov said on Wednesday, after meeting his western counterparts at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels. Share

4 Jun 2025 17.00 BST The European Commission proposed on Wednesday extending temporary protection for Ukrainians who have sought refuge in the European Union until March 2027, underlining the need for flexibility as Russia’s war in Ukraine drags on. The Commission, the EU’s executive body, also proposed steps to help displaced Ukrainians return home when the war eventually ends. EU figures show more than 4.25 million people who have fled Ukraine benefit from the bloc’s Temporary Protection Directive, a measure to help cope with mass arrivals of displaced persons that was activated after Russia’s 2022 invasion. The directive, which was due to expire in March 2026 and has already been extended three times, provides protection and benefits lasting for one to three years across the EU, including a residence permit, access to employment and social welfare. Share

4 Jun 2025 16.39 BST Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said on Wednesday he met US secretary of state Marco Rubio in Washington DC during his visit there. “We discussed the situation at the frontline and the need to strengthen support for Ukraine in the area of air defence,” he wrote on Telegram. “We also shared our views on the meeting with the Russians in Istanbul, the further course of negotiations, the upcoming exchange of prisoners, and the importance of returning all hostages and children abducted by Russia.” Share Updated at 17.02 BST

4 Jun 2025 16.02 BST German chancellor Friedrich Merz will tell US president Donald Trump on his upcoming visit that Europe is firmly on Ukraine’s side in its war with Russia and that no chance for peace must be passed up, Germany’s foreign minister said on Wednesday. “Europe expects us, the United States and Europe, to bring Russia to the negotiating table. This opportunity for peace must not be missed. And this war must finally be brought to a just end,” Johann Wadephul said at a news conference with his Polish counterpart. Share

4 Jun 2025 15.49 BST Talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey were sobering, German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said on Wednesday, adding Germany was pushing for new sanctions against Moscow which should be coordinated with the United States. “What we experienced at the recent talks in Istanbul is sobering. The Russian side presented nothing more than familiar maximum demands. A willingness to engage in dialogue looks different,” Wadephul said at a news conference with his Polish counterpart. “We are pushing for an 18th package of sanctions as quickly as possible,” he said. Share

4 Jun 2025 15.31 BST Russia’s top state investigator said on Wednesday that Ukraine’s security services blew up bridges at the weekend in Bryansk and Kursk regions, crimes that he said killed seven people and injured 115 others. Alexander Bastrykin, the head of Russia’s investigative committee, said that the controlling devices for the bombs were manufactured in Ukraine. The explosives were foreign made, he said. Bastrykin said the attacks were acts of terror. Ukraine has not commented on the train attacks. Vladimir Putin also said that the attacks on bridges were terrorist attacks aimed at wrecking the peace talks. “They are asking for a summit meeting. But how can such meetings be held in these conditions? What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?” Putin said. Share

4 Jun 2025 15.11 BST Russia should not fall for Ukraine’s criminal provocations, and should use negotiations and all means to achieve the goals of the military operation in Ukraine, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. After Lavrov’s remarks, President Vladimir Putin said: “I agree with this.” Share

4 Jun 2025 14.59 BST Jakub Krupa … and on that note it’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, but Tom Ambrose is here to offer you more detail on Ukraine talks when we have it and guide you through the afternoon. Share

4 Jun 2025 14.49 BST We are now getting some further updates from the latest round of talks between Russia and Ukraine. Reuters is carrying updates with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov saying “there was a real move forward” on certain issues, and adding that “all means, including negotiations, should be used to achieve goals of the military operation in Ukraine.” Head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky is quoted as offering more detail on the two sides returning prisoners of war – up to 1,200 on each side – and bodies of killed servicemen. He also said that Russia was “working on returning children to Ukraine”, with a list of 339 names. But the two sides appear to still be divided on the suggestion of an immediate unconditional ceasefire, which the Russian side reportedly rejected and put forward a two-three days break instead. We will bring you more detail on their comments when we have it. Share Updated at 14.58 BST

4 Jun 2025 14.32 BST Back to Brussels, opening the Ukraine Defense Contact Group’s meeting, UK defence secretary John Healey confirmed UK plans on drone deliveries for Ukraine. More broadly, he spoke about the need to continue supporting Ukraine as he stressed “this is not just Ukraine’s battle,” but “for the security of Europe, for our security today, tomorrow and for our future generations.” View image in fullscreen British Defence Secretary John Healey, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius attend a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, as a part of a Nato Defence Ministers’ meeting at the Alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters Share Updated at 15.04 BST

4 Jun 2025 14.13 BST Why Geert Wilders’ plan to become Netherlands leader may well backfire – analysis Jon Henley It is a gamble that Geert Wilders may live to regret. Increasingly frustrated by his coalition partners’ unwillingness to embrace his promised “strictest asylum policy in Europe”, the Dutch far-right leader brought down the government. View image in fullscreen Geert Wilders of the Party for Freedom (PVV) during a debate in the Lower House on the fall of the cabinet, in The Hague, The Netherlands. Photograph: Remko de Waal/EPA Wilders’ calculation, if it is more than a fit of political pique, appears simple: if he can turn this autumn’s snap elections into a referendum on immigration and asylum, his Freedom party (PVV) can win it – and he might even become the Netherlands’ prime minister. The plan, however, may well backfire, and for several reasons. Wilders has seriously alienated potential new coalition partners. The political landscape has changed. And polls suggest immigration and asylum are no longer voters’ biggest concern. Read the full analysis: Why Geert Wilders’ plan to become Netherlands leader may well backfire Read more Share

4 Jun 2025 14.12 BST Jakub Krupa Let’s turn to our Europe correspondent Jon Henley for the latest on the Dutch government crisis I referenced earlier. Share Updated at 14.18 BST

4 Jun 2025 14.00 BST Zelenskyy proposes Ukraine ceasefire anticipating leaders meeting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed implementing a ceasefire until such time as a meeting can be arranged with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported. View image in fullscreen Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the media during a press briefing in Kyiv. Photograph: Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP/Getty Images “My proposal, which I believe our partners can support, is that we propose to Russians a ceasefire until the leaders meet,” he told a briefing in Kyiv. 2 June peace talks with Russia in Istanbul made little progress toward ending the three-year-old war in Ukraine, apart from an exchange of proposals and a plan for a major swap of prisoners of war, which Zelenskyy said would take place this weekend. Separately, he suggested that Russia is only holding talks on ending the war to try to convince US president Donald Trump to delay fresh sanctions over its invasion, AFP reported. “They did it to demonstrate to the United States of America that they are constructive,” Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv. “Why? To have a delay, which depends on President Trump personally: whether or not to postpone the imposition of sanctions,” Zelenskyy said. Share

4 Jun 2025 13.47 BST The latest to arrive, Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans opts to speak in English as he seeks to reassure reporters that despite the ongoing political crisis, the Dutch government will continue to support Ukraine with new investments in maritime security, among others. Dutch government collapses as far-right leader pulls party out of coalition Read more He says: “We in the Netherlands have a new political situation since yesterday, but regarding international security, regarding defence, our support to Ukraine, the position of the Dutch government will remain the same. Our efforts will remain the same. So basically, we will continue business as usual you could say, because, of course, the international threats are still the same. And in order to protect ourselves and to strengthen both the military and our alliance, we need to continue the important work we do.” Share

4 Jun 2025 13.40 BST Lithuania’s defence minister welcomes ‘good news’ of Ukrainian attack on Russian airbase Lithuanian defence minister Dovilė Šakalienė expressed approval of Ukraine’s recent strike on a Russian airbase over the weekend, noting the timing coincided with her birthday. Ukraine launches major drone attack on Russian bombers, security official says Read more “Well, it was my birthday actually, on 1 June, so it was very good news,” she said, beaming. Šakalienė also said that 2032 would be way too late as the target date for Nato members to increase spending, saying that she wouldn’t be satisfied even with 2030 and more needs to be done earlier. “Is it really that difficult to understand that it doesn’t really matter how much you invest if it is too late? For, I don’t know, a cancer patient, it’s not really important if he will get treatment in two years, or in three years if he’s going to be dead (by then). He has to get better treatment right now.” She also stressed the need to continue supporting Ukraine, explaining that: If we fail with support to Ukraine, then Russia and China’s coordinated action globally will actually sow such level of chaos and discord that we won’t be able to restore our world order ever. Share

3.29pm BST

Dick Schoof is a career civil servant who was handpicked by Geert Wilders a year ago to lead the government.

He had tried to prevent the break up of the coalition this morning, but the meeting was short lived, with Wilders effectively collapsing the government when he walked out of it.

The far-right leader had said earlier on Tuesday that all his party’s ministers would quit the government after the other three parties in the coalition had rejected his radical proposals on immigration.

As my colleague Jon Henley notes in this story, Wilders had warned last week that if his plans were not adopted, the PVV – the largest party in parliament, with 37 seats – would be “out of the cabinet”.

He wanted the coalition to adopt a 10-point plan aimed at radically reducing immigration and asylum, including enlisting the army to secure and patrol the borders, turning all asylum seekers back at the border and closing refugee accommodation facilities.

Wilders also proposed sending all Syrian refugees home, suspending EU asylum quotas and banning family members joining refugees already in the country. Legal experts have said several of the proposals breached European human rights laws or the UN refugee convention, to which the Netherlands is a signatory.

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – America’s airstrikes on Iran will likely dominate the agenda at the upcoming NATO Summit.

President Donald Trump says Iran’s nuclear sites were “completely obliterated.” But the big question at the upcoming NATO Summit here in the Netherlands is what comes next?

The airstrikes carried out with cruise missiles and by B-2 stealth bombers – dropping bunker-buster bombs – marks the first time the U.S. has conducted a direct military attack on Iran. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth briefed reporters Sunday morning, “ …with the president gave us as I said, was a focused powerful and clear mission on the destruction of Iranian nuclear capabilities. Those were the targets that’s what was struck. That was overwhelming, that was what was overwhelming.”

Iran has promised retaliation on U.S. interests, with Iran’s Foreign Minister saying his country reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.

Addressing the Nation from the White House, President Trump had this stark warning:

“Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not. Future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier.”

Some of America’s NATO allies praised the military operation with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer now calling on Iran to resume negotiations and reach a diplomatic solution.

The U.S. and most NATO members maintain that Iran must not be permitted to develop a nuclear weapon. NATO leaders will discuss the latest developments in Iran when the NATO Summit gets underway on Tuesday.

President Trump is scheduled to travel to the Netherlands for the NATO summit on Tuesday.

Copyright 2025 Gray DC. All rights reserved.

NATO chief calls for more defense spending from Europe and Canada

toggle caption AP Photo/Kevin Wolf

For decades, the U.S. has played a leading security role both in Europe and for Europe. But President Trump has called that role into question and dialed back America’s involvement in many international conflicts.

Trump is particularly aggravated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO — the world’s biggest military alliance, which comprises 32 countries in Europe and North America.

The president has expressed frustration that Europe has not contributed enough monetarily to its own defense.

Speaking with Morning Edition on Friday while visiting Washington for meetings with Trump and other top officials, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he agreed with the president’s assessment of Europe and Canada’s financial contributions to NATO.

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“Rightly, the U.S. has complained. Particularly, President Trump has been very clear on this — that he expects Europeans and Canada to pay more, to step up in terms of their overall defense spending, and that is going to happen,” Rutte said.

NPR’s Michel Martin spoke to Rutte about how his talks with U.S. officials were going and NATO’s upcoming Hague summit.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Interview highlights

Michel Martin: How are your meetings going so far?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: We discussed Ukraine first. I think we can all be very happy for the fact that President Trump broke the deadlock and started the talks. Obviously, it is the U.S. — and its leadership and Trump’s leadership — which we need to hear to bring this to a good end, including help from the Secretaries [Pete] Hegseth, [Marco] Rubio and Security Adviser [Michael] Waltz. We discussed the state of play on that. I think they are really making progress and the ball is now clearly in Russia’s court. So, they need to now make a proposal, or at least react to what is on the table. We also discussed the upcoming NATO summit, which I believe we have every reason to think will be very successful. So much more defense spending, particularly on the European and Canadian side, which is necessary, but also ramping up defense industrial production.

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Martin: As you just mentioned, in a couple of months, you’re going to chair a summit of NATO nations in the Netherlands. You said you believe it will be successful. What does success look like?

Rutte: For two reasons I think it’ll be successful. First of all, I believe who will decide that the European side of NATO and the Canadian side of NATO will ramp up spending, which is crucial because of the Russian threat, and because of the Chinese buildup of its military. Also, it is fair to spend more on that side of NATO because it equalizes with what the U.S. is spending. Rightly, the U.S. has complained. Particularly, President Trump has been very clear on this, that he expects Europeans and Canada to pay more, to step up in terms of their overall defense spending, and that is going to happen. Then there is an issue around the whole of NATO, including the U.S., that we do not produce enough in terms of defense industrial products, ammunition, Navy ships, tanks, fighter jets, long range missiles, air defenses and what have you. We will take decisions in June to make sure that we will stay ahead of the Russians and the Chinese. That is important, too, to keep ourselves safe.

Martin: Turning to some specific conflicts, there are European leaders, both publicly and privately, that have expressed some shock at what seems to be an American tilt toward Russia in these negotiations over the war in Ukraine. They seem to be pressing Ukraine to make concessions, even as the U.S. in the current administration doesn’t seem to be pressing Russia as hard. Is that your view as well?

Rutte: It is not, no. I think the U.S. and President Trump’s team and he himself really tried to, in an even-handed way, bring this whole process forward. That will mean compromises on all sides. What we have seen last [in] the attack on Kiev, a residential area, people just going about their lives, [was] 12 people killed because of an indiscriminate attack by the Russians. Also, I was in Odessa the other week with President Zelenskyy and I’ve seen the devastation there when attacks take place and these missiles come in this beautiful, beautiful city. This is not a sign of strength by the Russians. If they really are winning this, they would not do this.

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Martin: Ukraine’s desire to seek NATO’s membership is a part of these discussions. Is that officially off the table now, to your understanding, or is that still part of the discussion?

Rutte: No, there is a clear statement by NATO that there is an irreversible path for Ukraine into NATO, but we always knew that there are very different views among allies. NATO is very much involved in building up the Ukrainian armed forces and helping with making sure that all the support for Ukraine military support for Ukraine is well coordinated. When it comes to full NATO membership, we never promised Ukraine that will be part of a peace deal.

Martin: Defense Secretary Hagel back in February warned that the U.S. is increasingly focused on Asia and its own borders for security. Did you walk away from this meeting feeling confident that the United States is still committed to NATO even if it reorders its priorities?

Rutte: 100% on both issues: the membership of NATO, and a total commitment to Article 5. Four weeks ago I was also visiting President Trump in the White House and he was very clear on this. Obviously, the U.S. has to take care of more issues than only Europe and the Euro-Atlantic. There’s also the Middle East. There’s also the Pacific. So, whilst the Europeans are stepping up, spending more, making sure that we can deliver more of the overall capabilities we need to deliver as NATO as a whole, it’s only logical for the U.S. to pivot more towards Asia. I’m absolutely convinced we will do this in a step by step approach, but it’s only logical. Everybody understands that.

Edited for radio by Olivia Hampton and for digital by Treye Green.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said NATO membership for Ukraine was unrealistic and in sweeping remarks suggested that the way forward for Ukraine was for the country to abandon hopes of a return to its pre-2014 borders and prepare for a negotiated settlement with Russia — one that should be backed up with an international force of troops.

Hegseth made the comments on Wednesday during the first trip to NATO and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group by a member of the new Trump administration. Allies have been waiting to hear how much continued military and financial support Washington intends to provide to Ukraine’s government.

What they heard was that President Donald Trump is intent on getting Europe to assume the majority of the financial and military responsibilities for the defense of Ukraine — to include a possible peacekeeping force that would not include U.S. troops — and that Hegseth said should not have Article Five protections if those troops end up in contact with Russian forces.

“Members of this contact group must meet the moment,” Hegseth said to the assembled group of approximately 50 member countries who have been providing support to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Hegseth held talks with U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey, before a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Hegseth’s predecessor, former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, set up the forum for drumming up arms and ammunition for Ukraine in 2022.

Over nearly three years, around 50 countries have collectively provided Ukraine more than $126 billion in weapons and military assistance. But the meeting this week was convened by another country for the first time: the United Kingdom. All previous gatherings of the forum were chaired by the United States.

No decision has been made on who might chair the next meeting, if one is called.

open image in gallery U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ( REUTERS )

His trip comes less than two weeks before the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Most U.S. allies fear that Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t stop at Ukraine’s borders if he wins, and that Europe’s biggest land war in decades poses an existential threat to their security.

U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to quickly end the war. He’s complained that it’s costing American taxpayers too much money. He has suggested that Ukraine should pay for U.S. support with access to its rare earth minerals, energy and other resources.

Some U.S. allies worry that a hasty deal might be clinched on terms that aren’t favorable to Ukraine. On top of that, Trump appears to believe that European countries should take responsibility for Ukraine’s security going forward.

Washington’s 31 NATO allies also want to hear what Trump’s new administration has in store for the world’s biggest security organization. Trump traumatized his European partners during his first term in office by threatening not to defend any member that doesn’t meet NATO guidelines for military spending.

NATO is founded on the principle that an attack on any ally must be considered an attack on them all and met with a collective response. Membership is considered to be the ultimate security guarantee, and it’s one that Ukraine is trying to secure.

open image in gallery U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to quickly end the war. ( AP )

Ukraine’s security needs and defense spending will be discussed on Thursday. European allies have hiked their military budgets since Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine, and 23 are estimated to have reached or exceeded last year the target of spending 2% of gross domestic product.

However, a third of members still haven’t reached that threshold, and Trump is almost certain to target them again. Recently, Trump called for NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, a level that no member has reached so far — not even Poland, which is the closest, spending more than 4% and expected to approach 5% this year.

Speaking to reporters in Germany on Tuesday, Hegseth wouldn’t commit to having the U.S. increase its defense spending to 5% of GDP. Hegseth said that he believes that the U.S. should spend more than it did under the Biden administration and “should not go lower than 3 percent.”

He said any final decision would be up to Trump, but added that “we live in fiscally constrained times” and need to be responsible with taxpayer money. The U.S. spends about 3.3% of GDP on defense.

NATO leaders are expected to agree on new spending targets at their next planned summit, in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 24-26.