Spain resists adoption of fresh NATO objective
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Ukraine War Live Updates +++ 18:03 Spain Pushes Back on New NATO Defense Spending Proposal
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Spain Balks at Raising Defense Spending to 5% of GDP by 2032
In a move that's causing a stir, Spain is rallying against NATO's ambitious plan to crank up defense spending for member nations to 5% of each country's GDP by 2032. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has slammed the proposed hike, commenting it would be both impractical and detrimental to Spain's welfare state and ideals.
Sanchez took things a step further, blasting the U.S.'s proposal for the 5% target as being incompatible with Spain's social model and worldview. His government is steadfast that it only needs to allocate 2.1% of its GDP for the estimated investment needs of the Spanish military. As it stands, Spain lags behind other NATO allies, with military spending at roughly 1.3%.
Despite initial obstacles, Madrid has stated its intention to meet the 2% target this year, rather than the planned 2029. Here's what's shaking out on the international scene:
17:34 Kremlin Draws Line at Putin-Trump Meeting
Looks like a Trump-Putin summit is off the table for now, as per Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. According to Peskov, there's no plan for such a meeting, and the process of removing obstacles between the U.S. and Russia is still in its early stages.
16:51 Klingbeil Prepares EU for More Russian Sanctions
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil isn't too stoked about rising oil prices and urged the EU to draft its 18th sanctions package against Russia, zeroing in on the energy and banking sectors. The underlying message: Russia's shown little inclination to engage in earnest peace talks with Ukraine.
16:10 Frozen Russian Assets Could Provide a Boost for Ukraine's Economy
Hidden within the EU's coffers, there lies nearly 200 billion euros of frozen Russian state funds, most of which is being held by Brussels-based financial institution Euroclear. Some are suggesting that these assets could be reallocated to a riskier investment fund, generating higher interest and offering a financial lifeline for Ukraine amid concerns from the U.S. President Trump about cutting off financial aid. Discussions about transferring these funds will be brought up during an informal dinner of EU finance ministers this Thursday.
15:40 Denmark Will Drive Ukraine's EU Accession Forward
Set to take over the EU Council presidency starting July 1st, Denmark plans to lean on its newfound influence to speed up Ukraine's accession process to the European Union. According to Minister for Europe, Marie Bjerre, the government intends to put as much pressure as possible on holdout EU partner Hungary.
Worth Noting: Ukraine's road to EU membership may stretch out for years, but the EU-27 have offered Ukraine membership promises in principle.
15:07 Dnipro Feel the Heat from Russian Attacks
Russian drone and artillery bombardments overnight resulted in a 59-year-old man's death in the Dnipro region, according to regional military governor Serhiy Lysak. Four others were injured, including an 11-year-old boy. Lysak shared photos of the damaged buildings resulting from the attacks.
14:29 Latest Prisoner Exchange Between Russia and Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine have wrapped up another prisoner swap. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced the exchange, which saw the return of ill and wounded soldiers from the conflict zones. The number of exchanged prisoners was not disclosed. Both sides shared photos of soldiers happily waving Russian and Ukrainian flags.
14:00 Desperate Russian Soldiers Opt for Imprisonment
Faced with the stark choice between deserting and a return to the frontlines, some Russian soldiers are resorting to a surprising tactic: intentionally going AWOL to face criminal charges and secure real prison sentences. Because prison sentences often bypass military courts and thus avoid return to active duty, this strategy provides these deserters with a lifeline.
13:09 Foreign Minister Rages: War Continues as Russia Rejects Peace Proposal
One hundred days have passed since Ukraine accepted the U.S.'s peace proposal, which called for a complete ceasefire and dialogue to move toward peace. But Russia's continued military attacks on Ukrainian cities breed disappointment and frustration among some leaders, including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Sybiha castigated Russia for its unwillingness to engage in peace talks and called for international pressure on Moscow.
12:43 Finland Weighs Exiting Anti-Personnel Mine Treaty to Counter Russian Aggression
Responding to the perceived threat from neighboring Russia, Finland is considering abandoning the Ottawa Convention, which rejects the use of anti-personnel mines. Parliaments in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have already taken similar steps. The move aims to allow Finland to defend itself in the face of potential aggression from Russia.
Fun Fact: Finland accumulated its signature on the Ottawa Convention in 2012, but never ratified it.
12:11 Rutte Plans NATO Restructuring
Newly appointed NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is poised to streamline the organization by abolishing two departments and cutting dozens of jobs at the Brussels headquarters. The restructuring aims to make NATO more efficient and better tailored to the current geopolitical climate.
11:26 Argentine Exposes Russian Influence Operation
The Argentine government has uncovered a Russian intelligence operation aimed at spreading pro-Kremlin disinformation and meddling with domestic affairs. Led by Russian nationals Lev Konstantinovich Andriashev and Irina Yakovenko, the network was allegedly linked to Kremlin-backed Lakhta. The network sought to collect political information, recruit local employees, and influence NGOs and grassroots movements.
10:52 Putin Threatens Germany Over Taurus Cruise Missile Deliveries
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning to Germany, stating that communication with Russia may be jeopardized if Germany delivers Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Putin contended that such a move would shatter German-Russian relations and be fruitless in terms of impeding the Russian offensive against Kyiv.
Trend Alert: Many civil societies, particularly in Ukraine, sound the alarm that disinformation and propaganda are being utilized by both sides in the conflict to bolster their narratives and rally support.
Worth Noting: Disinformation and propaganda are strategies used to deceive, manipulate, and control public opinion by spreading false or misleading information or promoting biased news.
Source: ntv.de | Photos: Unsplash, Pexels
Tags: Ukraine War, Russia, Ukraine, NATO, Cyber War, Attack on Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Wars and Conflicts, War Crimes
- The ongoing Ukraine War, a significant general news event, has raised questions about the defense spending policies of NATO member states, including Spain's Employment policy, as it pertains to military expenditure.
- As noted in the Union's politics, Finland is considering revising its Employment policy regarding the use of anti-personnel mines, in response to perceived threats from neighboring countries, particularly in the context of war-and-conflicts.
