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CNN —Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented his long-anticipated “Victory Plan” to Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday, after failing to drum up additional, tangible support last week during meetings with European allies. It also outlines provisions to strengthen Ukraine’s defense, implement a non-nuclear strategic deterrence package and grow Ukraine’s economy. The Ukrainian president first presented the victory plan to US President Joe Biden during a September visit to the White House. Ukraine's plan includes a new proposal for deploying a non-nuclear strategic deterrence package on its soil. Zelensky’s final pillars for peace are to grow Ukraine’s economic potential and look ahead to a post-war plan.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Joe Biden, Biden, “, Dmitry Peskov, Jens Stoltenberg, ’, CNN’s Clare Sebastian, Anna Chernova Organizations: CNN, Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, Ukraine, EU, ”, European Union, Kyiv Locations: Russia, Kyiv, Ukraine, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Donetsk, Europe, NATO, Russia’s Kursk

Longtime Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., was taken at the hospital Tuesday night and is receiving treatment after collapsing at an event in Washington, according to a congressional aide with knowledge of the situation. Later Tuesday night, Wilson's office confirmed the news in a post on X. "Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) was taken ill and is being evaluated at a local hospital in Washington, DC," his office said. Wilson, 77, was present for two vote series in the House on Tuesday afternoon and was joking with reporters just off the floor. Wilson has represented South Carolina in the House of Representatives since 2001.

Persons: Joe Wilson, Wilson, Jens Stoltenberg Organizations: Foreign Affairs Committee, NATO Locations: Washington, Washington ,, Philippines, Australia, Europe, South Carolina

☆ U.S., Germany foil alleged Russian plot to assassinate CEO of German arms firm sending weapons to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Dan De Luce | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

U.S. intelligence agencies discovered the plan to go after Papperger earlier this year and informed the German government, the sources said. We have also been clear that Russia's actions will not deter Allies from continuing to support Ukraine." The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the CIA and the German embassy in Washington all declined to comment. The Intelligence Committee is closely following these threats, which only strengthen our resolve to support Ukraine." And in February, the company signed a memorandum with Ukraine to set up a joint production plant for artillery ammunition.

Persons: Rheinmetall AG Armin Papperger, Ronny HARTMANN, RONNY HARTMANN, Armin Papperger, Papperger, Adrienne Watson, Biden, Watson, Oliver Hoffman, Putin, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Vladimir Putin, Rheinmetall's Papperger Organizations: Rheinmetall AG, Rheinmetall, AFP, Getty Images, U.S, Lynx, CNN, White House National Security, NATO Allies, National Intelligence, CIA, Democratic, House Intelligence, NATO, Intelligence, NBC News, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Unterluess, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Moscow, Russian, United States, Washington, cyberattacks, Kyiv, United Kingdom, London

☆ NATO allies are discussing reclaiming some Chinese-owned infrastructure in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Kayla Tausche | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —NATO officials are discussing taking action to reclaim some Chinese-owned infrastructure projects in Europe should a wider conflict with Russia break out in the east of the continent, three officials involved in the discussions told CNN. A decade ago, when Europe was still crawling out of the economic crater caused by the global financial crisis, the promise of infrastructure funding from Chinese-owned investment firms seemed like a major windfall. The fear, according to one US official, is that Beijing could use the infrastructure it owns in Europe to provide material assistance to Russia if the conflict were to expand. The discussions reflect an increasing focus on China by the NATO alliance. A NATO official said that if a war erupted, the infrastructure “would almost certainly be nationalized, or nations would temporarily assume operating control, under emergency security measures.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Kishida, ” Blinken, Jens Stoltenberg, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand Organizations: CNN, NATO, Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Initiative, Helsinki Shipyard –, US, Ukraine, European Union Locations: Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Beijing, China, NATO, Eastern Europe, Baltic, Finland, Canada, Japan, East Asia, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, France, Washington

“It’s not like Biden’s inner circle didn’t know this,” one Democratic strategist close to the White House said of the extent of the president’s recent decline. “Expect a drip, drip, drip,” said one former Biden White House official. “Blinders are off and everyone is aware,” one source close to the White House told CNN. “He’s declined,” one House Democratic lawmaker who attended the gala told CNN. She wields influence in the White House and campaign, and sits in on some of the president’s political meetings.

Persons: Joe Biden, George Clooney wasn’t, Biden, “, ”, Barack Obama, Obama, Bill Clinton, “ He’s, –, ’, Camp David, “ It’s, Tom Vilsack –, Andrew Bates, “ Joe Biden, ” Bates, Jens Stoltenberg, Keir Starmer, Jacquelyn Martin, Nancy Pelosi, Lester Holt, Ari Emanuel, Ron Klain, ” Emanuel, Klain, Emanuel, Bates, Brett McGurk, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden’s, Emmanuel Macron, Jill Many, Jill Biden, Chris Kleponis, “ She’s, she’s, Jill Biden’s, Valerie Biden Owens, Jill, Valerie won’t, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, Kylie Atwood, Betsy Klein, Arlette Saenz, Phil Mattingly Organizations: CNN, Peacock Theater, Radio City Music Hall, Democrat, White, Democratic, Biden, Camp, Los, “, Biden White House, NATO, British, AP, MSNBC, NBC, White House, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Economic Cooperation, Getty, Democratic Party Locations: Los Angeles, Italy, California, New York, Washington, Las Vegas, Aspen , Colorado, United States, Filoli, Asia, Woodside , California, Wilmington , Delaware, Paris, France, Wilmington, Pennsylvania, AFP

☆ Front-line NATO allies say the West needs to give Ukraine the 'technological superiority' it needs to beat Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThe West should send Ukraine the kind of weapons it needs to inflict a lasting, strategic defeat on Russia, NATO countries on the front lines of the military alliance said Tuesday. With this threat in mind, the Baltic nations have long pushed for increased defense spending among NATO member states. "The goal must be [the] strategic defeat of Russia in Ukraine," said Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds. The Baltic states say enabling Ukraine to win will require a massive political buy-in and support from the West. "We have to say clearly: 'Yes, we will help Ukraine to win this war.'"

Persons: —, Hanno Pevkur, Pevkur, Serhii, Laurynas, Kasčiūnas, Andris Sprūds, Joe Biden, Jens Stoltenberg, Andrew Mellon, Kevin Dietsch Organizations: Service, Lithuania —, Kyiv, Business, Estonian, POLITICO, NATO, Artillery, System, Getty, Russian, Moscow, Chamber of Commerce, Latvian Defense, Andrew Locations: Ukraine, Russia, NATO, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Baltic, Moscow, Washington ,, West, Europe, AFP, Kyiv, Washington , DC

☆ As NATO meets, leaders look to 'Trump-proof' the military alliance
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

US President Donald Trump arrives for the NATO summit at the Grove hotel in Watford, northeast of London on December 4, 2019. U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speak during a meeting in New York on September 25, 2019. Hanno Pevkur, Estonia's defense minister, emphasized that NATO allies did not interfere in each other's domestic politics and democratic processes. So when, when the choice of American people is Donald Trump, then it's Donald Trump. Then all the countries in the world, including Estonia, including the NATO allies, have to talk with this administration who will be put in place."

Persons: Donald Trump, Christian Hartmann, Trump, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Peter Nicholls, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Joe Biden's, —, Volodymyr Zelensky, Saul Loeb, Donald Trump's, Keir Starmer, Starmer, we've, that's, Radosław Sikorski, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, Hanno Pevkur, It's, France —, Balázs Orbán, Viktor Orbán Organizations: NATO, AFP, Getty, Republican, Ukraine, Eurasia Group, Trump, Ukrainian, Independent, CNBC, Hungary's Locations: Grove, Watford, London, Washington, Ukraine, China, North Korea, Iran, Britain, New York, Europe, Russia, Estonia, United States, Germany, Canada, France, Poland

☆ NATO's Stoltenberg: Expect U.S. to remain staunch ally whatever the election outcome
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNATO's Stoltenberg: Expect U.S. to remain staunch ally whatever the election outcomeOutgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg responds to a question from CNBC's Steve Sedgwick at a summit in Washington, D.C.

Persons: NATO's Stoltenberg, Jens Stoltenberg, Steve Sedgwick Organizations: NATO Locations: Washington ,

☆ Biden awards NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with Presidential Medal of Freedom
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Donald Judd | Michael Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden awarded the United States’ highest civilian honor to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in remarks marking the alliance’s 75th anniversary Tuesday evening, gifting the Norwegian diplomat with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a surprise ceremony kicking off this week’s NATO summit. Last year, Biden asked Stoltenberg to extend his tenure as NATO secretary general an additional year, citing Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was formally selected as the next NATO secretary general in late June and will begin the job on October 1. When the Russian war in Ukraine began, you didn’t hesitate,” Biden told Stoltenberg Tuesday. During his own remarks earlier in the event, Stoltenberg urged members of the alliance to continue their support for Ukraine.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jens Stoltenberg, – he’s, ” Biden, Biden, Stoltenberg, Mark Rutte, “, North America –, Barack Obama, ” Stoltenberg, ”, CNN’s Mitchell McCluskey Organizations: Washington CNN, United States ’, NATO, Dutch, “, Ukraine, Russia Locations: Norwegian, Ukraine, Europe, North America, “ Ukraine, Russia

☆ Biden needs to show he's 'with it' at 'extraordinarily important' NATO summit, former diplomat says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

watch nowThe stakes are high for the NATO alliance as the organization's 75th anniversary summit gets underway in Washington this week. "I think this NATO summit in Washington is an important moment for Joe Biden, he really has to show that he is with it, he's ready to continue to lead not only the United States of America but the NATO alliance," she told CNBC's Dan Murphy. Asked if the summit could be make-or-break for the transatlantic alliance, Gottemoeller replied: "I think it is an extraordinarily important summit for the NATO alliance; I wouldn't say it is a make-or-break. US President Joe Biden participates in the US-Nordic Leaders' Summit at the presidential palace in Helsinki, Finland, on July 13, 2023. US President Joe Biden travelled to Britain on July 9, 2023, to a NATO summit in Lithuania and will end the trip to Europe on July 13, 2023 in Finland.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Rose Gottemoeller, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Gottemoeller, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Trump, Vladimir Putin, Defence Lloyd J, Austin III, Rustem Umerov, Jens Stoltenberg, Charles Q, Brown Jr, Omar Havana Organizations: NATO, CNBC's, Nordic, AFP, Getty, Trump, Kyiv, Defence, Ukrainian Defence, United, Joint Chiefs Locations: Washington, U.S, United States, America, Helsinki, Finland, Britain, Lithuania, Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Brussels, Belgium

☆ Opinion: At NATO summit, Ukraine deserves the truth from Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Opinion Daniel R. Depetris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —A year ago, NATO heads of state gathered in Vilnius, Lithuania, for their annual summit. He called NATO’s unwillingness to establish a concrete timeframe for Ukraine’s membership “unprecedented and absurd,” causing consternation in the Biden administration and nearly derailing the summit. Several key NATO members, however, haven’t been especially eager to come to the defense of Ukraine. Why would Putin consider a ceasefire or diplomatic settlement with Kyiv if he knew that NATO membership for Ukraine was just around the corner? Biden should tell Zelensky point-blank that NATO membership is a fool’s errand — and while he’s at it, he ought to apologize to all Ukrainians, for waiting so long to state the obvious.

Persons: Daniel R, CNN —, Vladimir Putin, DePetris, Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, —, Jens Stoltenberg, haven’t, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Zelensky, Russia Michael McFaul, Putin, it’s Organizations: Defense, Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, Politico, Street, Guardian, CNN, NATO, Ukraine Locations: The, Vilnius, Lithuania, Bucharest, Ukraine, Washington, Kyiv, United States, Europe, North America, Poland, Georgia, Soviet, France, Germany, Crimea, ”, Russia, Moscow

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced plans to supply new air defenses to Ukraine in a speech opening the NATO summit – providing much-needed support for the country at a critical juncture in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Meanwhile, Italy would also provide a SAMP-T long-range air defense system. In addition to the long-range aerial defense systems, the US and other countries are also providing Ukraine with “dozens” of short- and medium-range systems to help Kyiv intercept Russian drones and missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would fight for “decisive actions” from the United States and Europe to help Ukraine. “All we allies knew before this war Putin thought NATO would break,” Biden said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ” Biden, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Zelensky, Donald Trump, Trump, Bill Clinton, –, Putin, Jens Stoltenberg, Biden’s, Stoltenberg Organizations: Washington CNN, NATO, Patriot, US, HAWKs, IRIS, Ukraine, United, Mellon, Treaty, “ Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Romania, Netherlands, Italy, United States, Israel, Russian, Canada, Norway, Spain, Europe, “, Russia, –

☆ Hungary’s Prime Minister Orban — a key Putin ally — makes first wartime visit to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (L) talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (R) in the Europa building prior the start of the meeting on June 27, 2024, in Brussels, Belgium. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday for his first wartime visit to the battle-torn country. Orban, meanwhile, communicated Hungary's intentions to improve ties with Ukraine and sign a broad bilateral cooperation agreement, while urging Zelenskyy to consider a quick cease-fire to accelerate peace talks, Reuters reported. Orban absented from last month's Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland, where Hungary was instead represented by Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. The Hungarian prime minister has also been one of the few Western leaders to meet the increasingly isolated Kremlin leader Putin since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Orban, Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Orban's, " Orban, Orban absented, Peter Szijjarto, Putin, Donald Trump, Jens Stoltenberg Organizations: European Union, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Reuters, nonmember Kyiv, Ukraine Peace Summit, Foreign, Associated Press, NATO Locations: Europa, Brussels, Belgium, Hungarian, Ukraine, Hungary, Moldova, Switzerland

☆ Russia can’t fight NATO on the battlefield – so it’s waging a hybrid war instead
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

And while they might look minor in isolation, taken together these incidents amount to what security experts say is Russia’s hybrid war on the West. Thornton said Russia was resorting to a campaign of sabotage as an alternative to a full-on war with NATO, which would be disastrous for Russia. Article 5 is the cornerstone principle that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all members. Danylyuk said the Russian security apparatus doesn’t shy away from using criminals to do its dirty work, tapping into its links with international organized crime. Russia can only be strong if the West and NATO are weak.

Persons: –, Petr Fiala, Jens Stoltenberg, Rod Thornton, there’s, ” Thornton, Vladimir Putin, Thornton, “, ”, It’s, ” Nicole Wolkov, Andrei Averyanov, Averyanov, Sergei, Yulia Skripal, d’etat, Oleksandr Danylyuk, …, Volodymyr Zelensky’s, Danylyuk, Olga Lautman, Fiala, Sergei Skripal, Yulia, Frank Augstein, ” Lautman, Lautman, Alexander Litvinenko, Andrei Lugovoi, Theresa May, Nikolai Glushkov, Salisbury, Putin, ” “, let’s, ’ ”, that’s, Litvinenko, Skripal Organizations: CNN, Occupation, . Police, European Union, NATO, King’s College London, ”, Royal United Services Institute, Czech Police, GRU, London –, German Federal Public, Ukraine, Russian, Russia NATO, Center for, European, of Human, Duma, Metropolitan Police, Command, Soviet, West Locations: Prague, Czech, Moscow, Europe, Riga, London, Warsaw, Germany, Russia, Belarus, Russian, Spain, Lithuania, Canada, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia –, United States, al Qaeda, France, EU, Salisbury, England, Czech Republic, Vrbetice, Montenegro, Moldova, Macedonia, Ukrainian, Poland, Salisbury , England, Finland, Estonia, Lautman, Soviet Union

☆ US signals that it has expanded policy to allow Ukraine to counterstrike into Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Haley Britzky | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The US appears to have expanded its agreement with Ukraine to strike over the border inside Russian territory wherever Russian forces are engaging in cross-border attacks into Ukraine, not just in the Kharkiv region as was previously determined. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told PBS News on Monday that the agreement with Ukraine to fire into Russia extends wherever Russian forces are attempting to invade. “It extends to anywhere that Russian forces are coming across the border from the Russian side to the Ukrainian side to try to take additional Ukrainian territory,” Sullivan said, adding that it’s “not about geography. The change marks a significant shift in the limited nature of the agreement between the US and Ukraine. “Russia opened a new front, they opened the front in the north in Kharkiv, where they’re attacking directly from Russian territory just over the border.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Charlie Dietz, ” Dietz, Joe Biden, there’s, Jens Stoltenberg, Ukraine “, ” Stoltenberg, I’ll, ”, There’s, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, National, PBS, Pentagon, US Defense Department, NATO, National Security Locations: Ukraine, Kharkiv, Russia, Brussels, ”, Russian

☆ Dutch PM Mark Rutte set to be next NATO secretary-general after rival withdraws from race
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Netherland's Prime Minister Mark Rutte arrives to attend the European Political Community summit at the Palacio de Congreso in Granada, southern Spain on October 5, 2023. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday rescinded his bid for the leadership of the NATO military alliance and threw his support behind the favorite contender for the post, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The move effectively clears the path for outgoing Dutch PM Rutte to assume the top position of the 32-member U.S.-led NATO military coalition, when incumbent Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg finishes his mandate on Oct. 1 after 10 years in the job. Iohannis, 65, is ending his second five-year round at the helm of Romania, which will hold national elections in September. Two weeks ago, Budapest conceded not to block the NATO alliance's deepening military support for Ukraine, in exchange for nonparticipation.

Persons: Mark Rutte, Klaus Iohannis, Iohannis, Rutte, Jens Stoltenberg Organizations: Netherland's, Palacio, Congreso, NATO, Dutch, Supreme, of National Defense, CNBC, U.S, Ukraine Locations: Granada, Spain, Romanian, Romania's, Ukraine, Iohannis, Romania, Rutte, Hungary, Russia, Budapest

The eventual language issued by the alliance about Ukraine during July’s summit in Washington is critical. Vague commitment in 2008It was back in 2008 at a NATO summit in Budapest that Ukraine was first offered a vague commitment of an invitation to join in the future. “Of course we’d be for ‘irreversible,’” a third Eastern European official said. Generally, throughout the conflict, British officials, the closest US allies in NATO, have consistently hoped the White House would take a more aggressive stance. “When the text is on the table and the countries start to negotiate we can see the full picture,” the Eastern European official said.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, we’ll, Antony Blinken, Biden, Stoltenberg, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, “, ” Stoltenberg, ”, doesn’t, It’s “, Vladimir Putin, ” Putin, Putin, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN, NATO, Central, “, US, Biden, European, ”, US State Department, NATO Alliance, Eastern, Eastern European Locations: United States, United Kingdom, Washington, Russia’s, Ukraine, July’s, Russia, Prague, Hungary, Central European, Kyiv, Lithuanian, Vilnius, Budapest, Russian, ”, Kharkiv, London

☆ North Korea rolls out the red carpet for Putin as West fears nuclear implications
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Russia's President Vladimir Putin is greeted by North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un during a welcoming ceremony at an airport in Pyongyang, North Korea June 19, 2024. Gavriil Grigorov | Via ReutersRussian President Vladimir Putin was met with a grand reception in Pyongyang, North Korea on Wednesday amid concerns from Western officials about the two nuclear-armed countries' growing relationship. North Korean state TV showed the two leaders warmly embracing on a red carpet outside Pyongyang International Airport after Putin landed around 2:45 a.m. local time, kicking off his first visit there in 24 years. During their initial meeting, the Russian and North Korean leaders shared their "pent-up inmost thoughts" and agreed to further develop their nations' relations, state media KCNA reported. "We are, of course, also concerned about the potential support that Russia provides to North Korea when it comes to supporting their missile and nuclear programs," said Stoltenberg.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, North, Kim Jong Un, Gavriil, Putin, Kim Jong Un's, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Antony Blinken Organizations: Reuters, Pyongyang International Airport, NATO, U.S Locations: Pyongyang, North Korea, Russia, North, Eurasia, Ukraine, China, Iran, Antony Blinken .

☆ China could soon have to choose between fueling the Ukraine war and its access to Europe's economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg this week warned China it faces a stark choice if it continues backing Russia's Ukraine invasion. "But the reality is that China's fueling the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. In response, China has said it is not a party to the Ukraine war and that there should be no interference with trade between China and Russia. AdvertisementChina-Europe tensions increaseIt's not just China's support for Russia that appears to be focusing European minds on the potential threat it poses. Both have taken a critical stance towards Ukraine and appear keen to do more business with China, in defiance of EU policy.

Persons: —, Jens Stoltenberg, Xi, Stoltenberg, Emanuel Macron Organizations: Service, Publicly, Business, West, European Commission, US, European Union, Financial Locations: China, Ukraine, Europe, Beijing, Russia, Germany, Hungary, Serbia

☆ Record number of NATO allies expected to hit defense spending target amid war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at the Czernin Palace, in Prague, Czech Republic, May 31, 2024. A record more than 20 NATO member nations are hitting the Western military alliance's defense spending target this year, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday, as Russia's war in Ukraine has raised the threat of expanding conflict in Europe. The estimated figure is a nearly fourfold increase from 2021 in the ranks of the 32 NATO members meeting the alliance's defense spending guideline. NATO members agreed last year to spend at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense. But after Russia seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, NATO members unanimously agreed to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense within a decade.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Vladimir Putin's, Stoltenberg, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Putin Organizations: NATO, Wilson Center, White House, . Defense, Ukraine's Locations: Prague, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Europe, Washington, Sweden, Finland, Soviet Union, Russia, Ukraine's Crimean

☆ More than 20 of 32 NATO allies spending at least 2% of GDP on defense, Stoltenberg says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Kayla Tausche | Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is visiting Washington and meeting with Biden ahead of the city’s hosting of the alliance’s annual summit, set to take place in July. “Just five years ago, there was still less than 10 allies that spent 2% of GDP on defense,” Stoltenberg said during remarks at The Wilson Center in Washington. “I can only now reveal that this year, more than 20 allies will spend at least 2% of GDP on defense.”“This is good for Europe,” he added. Several NATO member countries that either border Russia or are nearby have hiked their defense spending since 2022. Biden has heralded NATO as the “greatest defense alliance in the history of the world,” and the alliance has expanded by two member countries since he became president.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Jens Stoltenberg, Biden, “, ” Stoltenberg, ”, Donald Trump, “ I’ve, they’re, we’re, ” Trump, Trump, – Organizations: Washington CNN, NATO, Wilson Center, America, Trump, CNN, White Locations: United States, Washington, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Wales, Crimea, Finland, Sweden

☆ Hungary agrees not to veto NATO's deepening support for Ukraine in exchange for nonparticipation
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Hungary will neither block nor participate in the military alliance's deepening support for Ukraine, as he looks to shore up support ahead of a key summit in Washington next month. "At the summit, I expect allies will agree a leading role for NATO in coordinating and providing security assistance and training for Ukraine. I also expect allies will agree long-term financial pledge to provide military support," Stoltenberg said Wednesday at a press briefing in Budapest, where he carried out a surprise visit. In exchange for these concessions, Hungary has agreed not to veto NATO's deepening military aid in support of Ukraine. And he has confirmed that Hungary will meet all of its NATO commitments in full," Stoltenberg said Wednesday.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Viktor, Orban Organizations: NATO, Ukraine, Associated Locations: Hungary, Washington, Budapest, Ukraine

☆ Opinion: 80 years after D-Day, have our world leaders learned nothing?
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The ceremonies, as is tradition, honor those who fought and died in World War II, and reaffirm a commitment to learn the lessons of history. But what exactly are those lessons, and how exactly will world leaders turn that commitment into reality? Join us on Twitter and FacebookAs they gaze on the once blood-drenched beaches of Normandy, world leaders should consider the lessons of World War II, and how to apply them today. Eventually, 16.4 million Americans served in the military during World War II, more than 10% of the population. And yet, the beaches of Normandy resonate with the lessons of that terrible history; world leaders should listen closely.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, ”, Hitler, Trump, Reenactors, Daniel Cole, Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron, Putin, Macron, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, Ludovic Marin, Donald Tusk, Zelensky, Jeremias Gonzalez, Olaf Scholz, Jens Stoltenberg, America Firsters Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, CNN CNN, Frida Ghitis CNN, Europe, Utah, AP, Kyiv, Russia, Financial Times, Zelensky, NATO, 1st Infantry Division, Twitter, Facebook Locations: France, United States, US, Normandy, Nazi, Ukraine, Europe, Sainte, Marie, Mont, Paris, Moscow, Russian, Russia, ” Germany, Spain, AFP, Kyiv, Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Kharkiv, Omaha Beach, Finland, America, Pearl

☆ A major ammo supplier to Ukraine says poor quality parts are impacting half the shells it's trying to deliver
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewCentral Europe's largest ammunition supplier said that quality and cost issues meant that half of the shells it's sourcing for Ukraine can't be sent directly to the country, according to the Financial Times. In January, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the war in Ukraine had "become a battle for ammunition." Ukraine has been forced to limit itself to firing 2,000 shells per day for much of this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. AdvertisementAnd it's only been since mid-May that its forces have started to breathe more easily over their ability to expend shells, Zelenskyy said.

Persons: —, Michal Strnad, Strnad, Strnad's, Jens Stoltenberg, Sinéad Baker, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Financial Times, Czechoslovak Group, Business, CSG, Radio Free, NATO, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Czech, Asia, Africa, Prague, Russia

☆ A top secret meeting is kicking off in Madrid with the CEOs of Google DeepMind, Anthropic and Microsoft AI in attendance
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Google DeepMind co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Demis Hassabis gives a conference during the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the telecom industry's biggest annual gathering, in Barcelona on February 26, 2024. The CEOs of artificial intelligence heavyweights Google DeepMind, Microsoft AI, Anthropic and Mistral AI are among the elite list of business and political leaders attending a secretive meeting kicking off in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday. AI will once again dominate discussions at the annual Bilderberg Meeting after catapulting onto the agenda last year following the meteoric rise of the burgeoning technology. U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg are also among the political figures who will attend for geopolitical discussions including on China and Russia. According to its organizers, the closed nature of the event aims to foster "informal discussions about major issues."

Persons: Demis Hassabis, Jane Fraser, Eric Schmidt, Albert Bourla, Wael Sawan, Peter Thiel, Wally Adeyemo, Dmytro Kuleba, Jens Stoltenberg Organizations: Google, Mobile World Congress, MWC, Microsoft, Mistral, Citigroup, Pfizer, NATO, Chatham House, Economic Locations: Barcelona, Madrid, Spain, Ukrainian, China, Russia, Spanish, Chatham, Davos, Switzerland

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