NATO Eyes Ukraine Aid in New 5% Defense Spending Target Amid Summit Shift
NATO allies are preparing to discuss whether defense support for Ukraine can count toward a newly proposed 5% GDP defense spending target, as the alliance attempts to present a unified front at the upcoming summit in The Hague later this month, The Gaze reports, citing Bloomberg.
According to a preliminary draft of the summit declaration, the proposal would allow each member state’s Ukraine-related contributions to be included in their defense spending quotas — marking a major strategic shift. The draft is subject to change before the final agreement.
The declaration represents a stark departure from previous summit communiqués, particularly last year’s 5,000-word document which included long-term security commitments to Kyiv and explicitly endorsed Ukraine’s future membership. This year’s version is a concise, one-page text focused strictly on spending, avoiding more divisive topics.
Insiders say the shortened format and limited agenda, which includes only a single working session and a ceremonial dinner with the King of the Netherlands — aim to prevent potential disagreements between President Donald Trump and European allies from spilling into public view.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is reportedly framing the summit to deliver a clear win for the Trump administration, notably by aligning with the U.S. demand that allies spend at least 5% of GDP on defense.
Under the proposal, NATO members would commit to allocating 3.5% toward core defense and an additional 1.5% to cover infrastructure protection, cyber defense, and civil preparedness.
Crucially, the document omits any reference to Ukraine’s NATO membership prospects — a point of focus at previous summits and a key issue for Kyiv. The draft also leaves out a renewal of last year’s $40 billion security pledge for Ukraine.
While the statement affirms the alliance’s core principle of collective defense — that an attack on one member is an attack on all — and officially labels Russia a “threat” to Euro-Atlantic security, it notably stops short of calling Moscow the aggressor in Ukraine. China, previously described as a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war, is not mentioned at all.
Read more on The Gaze: 2025 Summer NATO Summit in The Hague: The Moment of Truth