Importance Score: 78 / 100 🔴
WASHINGTON — As critical Ukraine-Russia peace talks commenced in the UK, and amid potential US withdrawal threats, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz urged European countries on Tuesday to amplify their defense spending to 5% of GDP. This demand aims to bolster NATO allies, emphasizing the necessity for Europe to enhance its security contributions.
Calls for Increased European Defense Spending
During an interview Tuesday, Waltz emphasized President Trump’s prior calls for raising defense spending from a “bare minimum” of 2% of GDP. He noted Trump has since underscored that Europe must independently address its security needs, with all nations achieving the 5% threshold. Waltz stated, “President Trump is saying ‘no.’ You need make-up money, so to speak. You need to all be at 5%. And, you know, a key pillar of this is that Europe take the lead for its own security.”
Previous Shortfalls in Defense Contributions
Several European nations failed to meet the 2% defense spending target during Trump’s initial term, preceding his 2018 request for NATO members to contribute double that amount. Waltz specifically criticized Canada for retracting its pledge to elevate its security budget to the 4% level.
“He is going to continue to demand 5% of their GDP heading into a big NATO summit this year,” the national security advisor affirmed.
As of last year, NATO’s average defense spending lingered around 2.7% of GDP.
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Ukraine-Russia Peace Plan
Trump’s national security advisor issued this firm directive prior to a meeting of international leaders in London on Wednesday. The meeting addressed a US-proposed peace initiative aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has now spanned over three years.
Trump’s Criticism of Zelensky
Earlier Wednesday, Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for complicating the peace process by publicly opposing the terms of the “final offer.” This plan reportedly included the US formally acknowledging Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.
“This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion,” the president posted.
He added, “Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?”
Details of the Proposed Agreement
A senior administration figure indicated that recognizing the Crimean peninsula as Russian territory would represent a significant divergence in foreign policy. Such an action could potentially contradict the Welles Declaration, which prohibits the US from recognizing “the occupation of a foreign land by another nation.”
The proposed agreement also purportedly entails:
- “De facto” recognition of Russia’s occupation of eastern Ukrainian territory.
- A commitment to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.
- The lifting of certain economic sanctions against Russia.
- An agreement for cooperation between Russia and the US on energy and industrial endeavors.
Conversely, Ukraine would receive:
- “A robust security guarantee” pending a cease-fire agreement.
- The return of a portion of territory in Kharkiv from Russian occupation.
- Navigation rights in the Dnieper River along the conflict’s front lines.
- Economic support for post-war reconstruction.
White House Reaction
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Wednesday that Trump was “frustrated” by the stalled peace negotiations. He attributed the stagnation to Zelensky’s “inflammatory statements” in the press.
“The President’s national security team, his advisors, have exuded significant time, energy and effort to try to bring this war to an end,” Leavitt said. “The American taxpayer has funded billions of dollars in this effort, and enough is enough. The President frustrated. His patience is running very thin. He wants to do what’s right for the world. He wants to see peace. He wants to see the killing stop but you need both sides of the war willing to do that, and unfortunately President Zelensky seems to be moving in the wrong direction.”
When questioned about the US potentially withdrawing from negotiations if Zelensky does not agree to the accord, Leavitt responded, “Not by the end of the day today, but the President has maintained that his frustration is growing and he needs to see this thing come to an end.”
Other Diplomatic Efforts and Achievements
During the interview, Waltz also highlighted the progress in ongoing diplomatic discussions with nations bordering Israel, aimed at expanding upon the Abraham Accords established during Trump’s previous term. Additionally, he noted the successful airstrikes against terror leaders in the Middle East.
“President Trump has eliminated 74 named terrorist leaders that the Biden administration wasn’t going after,” the national security adviser said. “You add to that 45 Americans who are being held hostage by various regimes and groups around the world that he’s brought home and that is just an incredible achievement in just a couple of months.”
“Americans should sleep better at night,” he added. “We’re only three months in, and look at the results President Trump is getting. The mainstream media doesn’t want to talk about those.”