Brussels, June 28 (V7N) — As U.S. military aid to Ukraine remains limited under the Trump administration, European allies and Canada have pledged $35 billion in military support for Ukraine this year, aiming to fill the gap. This was announced by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte ahead of the alliance’s annual summit in The Hague on June 24-25.

Rutte noted that the aid level is already nearing $40 billion, with half the year still remaining. “This represents a substantial commitment by Europe and Canada to support Ukraine’s defense,” he said.

The increased support comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to assert his goal of bringing all of Ukraine under Russian control. Speaking at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Putin reiterated, “The Russian and Ukrainian peoples are one nation. In this sense, all of Ukraine is ours.” He added, “Wherever the Russian soldier sets foot, that is ours.”

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha responded sharply, declaring, “Wherever the Russian army sets foot, it brings only death, destruction, and disaster.” President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Putin’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine to countries like Belarus, the Baltic states, Moldova, the Caucasus, and Kazakhstan.

In light of these threats, a leaked German defense strategy document, reported by Der Spiegel, described Russia as an “existential threat”, warning that Moscow is preparing for large-scale war against NATO by 2030. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged past miscalculations, stating, “We have ignored the warnings of the Baltic states for too long. There is no turning back from this reality.”

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has demanded a halt to Western arms shipments as a precondition for any ceasefire, reaffirmed by spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on June 28.

As tensions escalate, analysts warn that Europe’s increased military aid signals not just solidarity with Ukraine, but also growing concern over broader regional security.

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