Did NATO Abandon Ukraine at The Hague?
NATO’s June 2025 summit in The Hague marked a mixed outcome: while the alliance, driven by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, agreed to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP and reaffirmed collective defense under Article 5, serious doubts linger among Eastern European members. Trump’s remarks introduced uncertainty around Article 5’s guarantees and left the Baltic states uneasy about NATO’s response to Russia’s increasing hybrid warfare tactics. Most critical, however, was NATO’s decision not to formally condemn Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and its limited engagement with President Zelensky—signaling Britain’s and Europe’s growing fatigue with Ukraine’s cause.
Meanwhile, Ukraine faces dire straits on multiple fronts. The protracted war has drained its manpower and materiel, forcing President Zelensky to accept unpopular conscription measures that have yet to reverse dwindling troop numbers. As U.S. aid falters—particularly in the wake of Trump’s reluctance to commit to long-term military support—Ukraine has shifted focus to defensive systems like Patriot missiles, while offensive capabilities remain under-resourced. Although European countries, led by Germany, the Netherlands, and Britain, have stepped up ammunition, F-16s, and drone production support, these efforts remain insufficient to fully blunt Russia’s offensives.
Source: The Telegraph
