Ex-NATO envoy sees Europe gauging Trump's Ukraine stance
Kurt Volker told NPR that European officials remain irritated with Trump but see signs of continued U.S. support for Ukraine.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker told NPR that European leaders expect next month’s NATO summit in Turkey to go ahead in routine fashion despite President Donald Trump’s renewed criticism of the alliance. His assessment comes as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte works to hold the 32-member bloc together ahead of the meeting.
Volker, speaking to NPR’s Morning Edition from Poland, said European officials remain frustrated with Trump but are watching for signs of where U.S. policy is headed on Ukraine. He was in Poland for the Ukraine Recovery Conference, according to NPR.
NPR’s Teri Schultz reported that Rutte, who is visiting Washington this week, faces pressure to preserve alliance unity after Trump suggested he might skip the summit if it were not hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom Trump has praised. Trump has also pushed NATO countries to lift defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product, NPR reported.
Europe watches for signals on Ukraine
Volker told NPR that irritation with Trump remains widespread among European officials. Within that frustration, he said, they are trying to interpret recent U.S. moves and statements for clues about the administration’s direction.
Volker cited Trump’s praise for Ukrainian fighters and continuing U.S. support for European purchases of American weapons as signs that have encouraged officials in Europe. NPR reported that those purchases are part of what European leaders are weighing as they assess U.S. commitment to Ukraine.
The former envoy also told NPR that Ukraine has improved its position in drone warfare. He said Russia’s economy has weakened, adding to the factors shaping European expectations ahead of the summit.
Rutte meets Trump before NATO summit
Rutte met Trump and other officials in the Oval Office on Wednesday, according to Getty Images caption information published by NPR. The meeting came before the NATO summit and during a six-month Pentagon review of U.S. forces in Europe, NPR reported.
Volker told NPR he expects the NATO gathering to be “fairly smooth.” He said the meeting is likely to center on defense spending and military procurement, two issues that have dominated alliance debates as members respond to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Trump’s complaints about NATO burden-sharing have long unsettled European governments, and NPR reported that his latest comments have again put Rutte in the position of trying to keep the alliance aligned. Volker’s view, as described to NPR, is that European officials are separating the public friction from policy signals that suggest Washington may continue backing Ukraine through weapons channels involving Europe.
This story draws on original reporting from NPR.