The plan, which was announced at a June 25 summit in The Hague, Netherlands, earmarks 3.5% for core defense needs and allows contributions to Ukraine’s defense to count toward the total. NATO leaders reaffirmed support for Kyiv but avoided directly condemning Russia’s invasion,

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated on Wednesday he will consider providing more of the Patriot missiles that Ukraine needs to defend against mounting Russian strikes, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin "really has to end that war".

NATO is “not a rip-off,” the president adds at the end of the alliance’s summit, reversing past attacks on the organization.