**Italy’s Prime Minister Calls on US to Match Determination in Ukraine as with Iran**
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has urged the United States to show the same determination it has shown towards Iran in ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. She made this statement on June 25, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague.
Meloni, a close ally of former US President Donald Trump, welcomed the recently announced ceasefire between Israel and Iran. However, she emphasized that sustained commitment is also needed in Ukraine, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared “all of Ukraine is ours.” She urged Trump to apply the same determination to achieve two other important ceasefires: one in Ukraine and one in Gaza.
The escalation in tensions comes as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, with reports emerging of 1,100 casualties suffered by Russian forces just over the past day. A Russian military court has also convicted 184 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) captured in Kursk Oblast of acts of terrorism.
**US Shows Support for Ukraine**
Despite concerns over waning US support for Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Trump during the summit and reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s defense. The leaders agreed that direct contributions to Ukraine’s defense and industrial capacity will be counted towards NATO’s new defense spending goal.
The NATO summit also saw all 32 member states agree to a new benchmark, committing to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Meloni praised the decision as a sign of unity, saying it was “more important especially in the context we are in.”
**Russia’s Actions Spark Concerns**
The Russian military has been accused of using drones to try and fully control all movement in the city of Dnipro, where a deadly missile attack struck civilian infrastructure and a passenger train on June 24. The move represents the U.K.’s first direct use of Russia-linked funds to buy weaponry for Kyiv.
**US Secretary of State Delivers Mixed Messages**
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio surprised NATO allies with conflicting messages on Russia sanctions, delivering a tougher stance in private than in his public remarks. This has sparked concerns over US commitment to supporting Ukraine.
**Landmark Agreement Signed**
Ukraine and the Council of Europe have signed a landmark agreement to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, aimed at prosecuting Russian leadership for the full-scale invasion. The signing follows more than three years of diplomatic efforts and deliberation.
In related news, Trump expressed support for Ukraine’s request for Patriot missiles, saying “they do want to have the anti-missiles… and we’re going to see if we can make some available.” He also described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a person he considers “misguided.”
**Reaffirming Support**
President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed appreciation for US support, saying “we covered all the truly important issues” during his meeting with Trump. The leaders reaffirmed support for Ukraine, stating that direct contributions to Ukraine’s defense and industrial capacity will be counted towards NATO’s new defense spending goal.
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