French President Emmanuel Macron is convening this Monday afternoon in Paris the main European leaders, the European Commission, and NATO in response to the plan of U.S. President Donald Trump to marginalize Europeans in a potential peace process in Ukraine.
Trump's approach to ending the war between Russia and Ukraine has raised concerns among European allies and Ukrainian officials, who fear being sidelined by the new U.S. government while Washington and Moscow plan direct negotiations.
These negotiations could take place in Saudi Arabia, as Trump hinted last week that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin outside of Ukraine, the European Union, and NATO.
In his quest for support, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.
Over 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died since the start of the war
Over 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died on the battlefield since the start of Russia's invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in an interview with U.S. network NBC News.
The Ukrainian president had revealed earlier in February that casualties in the Kiev army had already exceeded 45,000.
At the same time, nearly 380,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been injured since the start of the war. "Tens of thousands" of Ukrainian troops are currently missing in action or held captive by Russia, the Ukrainian president explained to the U.S. network.
Yolanda Díaz says it is "impossible" for Spain to allocate 2% of its budget to defense
Spain's Second Deputy Prime Minister and leader of Sumar, Yolanda Díaz, stated on Monday that it is "impossible" for Spain to allocate 2% of its annual budget to defense, as it would mean allocating 30 billion and turning the U.S. into the main supplier of military equipment.
In statements to Spanish Television collected by Servimedia, Díaz referred to the fact that U.S. President Donald Trump is calling on European countries to increase their defense spending and that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has expressed willingness for the country to move towards 2% of its budget in this area.
The deputy prime minister indicated that Spain currently spends 1.2% on defense, which amounts to 7 billion per year. However, she pointed out that 2% would be 30 billion, something she said is "impossible," as it would mean that Spain's defense policy would be based on purchasing weapons from the U.S.