Poland to Europe: Don’t play games with Trump, spend more on defense

John Boltonformer national security adviser

I think it's highly probable that Trump will try and withdraw the United States from NATO, and he's already setting preconditions that will justify it,

Bolton said

John Boltonformer national security adviser

Now he's saying you need to spend five percent of GDP on defense. I personally think that's what the US should spend. I think in a challenging world, we're not spending enough, and we're at about three now,

Bolton said

Gabrielius Landsbergisformer lithuanian Foreign Minister

Now is the time to invest because you can't make an assumption that America's presence will last forever."

As noted by Politico, Landsbergis's comments were made as Hegseth told an audience in Warsaw

BREAKING: President Donald Trump is reportedly considering withdrawing the US from NATO."

Political commentator Dominic Michael Tripi posted Sunday on X, formerly Twitter

Donald Tuskpolish Prime Minister

Regardless of what anyone has to say to each other sometimes in brutal words … there is no reason for allies arguing among themselves not to find a common language on the most important issues, ... That’s why I will be in Paris to forestall all possible voices that would like to introduce some kind of competitive game between the European Union and the United States, because it doesn’t make any sense.”

Tusk said, adding

Donald Tuskpolish Prime Minister

I will ask the prime ministers gathered in Paris today directly, are they ready to make a serious decision?”

Tusk said on his way to the gathering, referring to defense spending

There will be no security guarantees that we have not developed and accepted ourselves,

he said

However, if the war were to become ‘frozen’ and Russia no longer had to suffer significant losses during the active hostilities in Ukraine, Moscow would be able to increase its military presence next to the NATO’s northeastern flank, including the Baltics, within the next five years,

the report warns

Russia is likely to be more willing to use military force in a regional war against one or more European NATO countries if it perceives NATO as militarily weakened or politically divided,

it said

Europeans may simply not have the time for gradualism in security integration any more,

De Weck wrote

Christian Lindnerformer Finance Minister

The question is: under what political and financial conditions would Paris and London be prepared to maintain or expand their own strategic capabilities for collective security?”

Lindner wrote last year

French leaders have three main worries,

an analysis published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) stated

And even if I will look at the army of Russia, if they will see it that they, Russia, have 220 or 250 brigades, and Europe has 50. That is the answer. The risk that Russia will occupy Europe is 100 per cent,

he warned

Volodymyr Zelenskyypresident

I will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine, never,

Zelensky told the ‘Meet the Press’ moderator on Friday in Munich, Germany

Dmitry Peskovkremlin spokesman

One way or another, of course, Ukraine will participate in the negotiations, ... There will be a bilateral Russian-American track of this dialogue, and a track that will be related to Ukraine's involvement."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state-controlled TV on Thursday, per Reuters ... adding,

There are risks that this can be Poland and Lithuania because we believe that Putin will wage war against NATO."

He continued

Volodymyr Zelenskyypresident

We know for sure that he is preparing steps on the territory of Belarus this year. It can happen in summer, maybe in the beginning, maybe in the end of summer. I don't know when he prepares it, but it will happen."

Zelensky told Welker in Ukrainian

You have actual intelligence that President Putin is planning to attack NATO countries?"

Welker then asked

No, we have intelligence, we have documents that they are preparing trained mission of a big number of soldiers on the territory of Belarus. We are just sharing that there is a high risk that he can do the same, maybe not, god bless not, and maybe before it, President Trump and the allies will stop him."

The Ukrainian president responded in English

Donald Trumppresident

As we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine...We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other's Nations. We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately."

President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this week following his phone call with Putin