The Latest Breaking News from NATO

Yes, defence spending has to rise – but slashing the welfare state to fund it would be a big mistake, say Shahin Vallée of the German Council for Foreign Relations and Joseph de Weck of the Foreign Policy Research Institute

Recent news from Ukraine has generally been bad. Since the end of May, ever larger Russian air strikes have been documented against Ukrainian cities with devastating consequences for civilians, including in the country’s capital, Kyiv.

US munitions slated for Ukraine held up over shortage as Trump ‘disappointed’ by Putin’s refusal to make concessions

The position of SACEUR has always been held by a US military general since its creation in 1951.

ANALYSIS: The Europeans are stepping up pleas to Trump over Ukraine while he’s ‘mocked’ by Putin. World affairs editor Sam Kiley explains how the US is no longer seen as a European ally

Asked about his expectations from the call, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said "I'm not sure that they have a lot of common ideas, common topics to talk (about), because they are very different people."

Russian leader Vladimir Putin told US President Donald Trump by telephone on Thursday that Moscow will not "give up" on its aims in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.

Estonia’s prime minister believes that Russia will continue to be a threat as long as Vladimir Putin remains in power. In an interview with Euronews, Kristen Michal explained that ending the war would oblige the Russian president to face difficult questions from his own people.

Phone call comes after a top Pentagon official ordered a halt to any arms shipments bound for Kyiv’s defense