Russia denounces NATO decision to provide military aid to Ukraine
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- NATO members at a Turkey summit pledged €70 billion in military assistance to Ukraine for 2026 and unveiled arms deals worth at least $50 billion USD
- NATO reaffirmed its "ironclad commitment" to collective defense under Article 5 in a summit declaration
- Maria Zakharova said NATO's decisions could lead to "catastrophe not just for the alliance, but for the whole world" and accused NATO of prioritizing militarization of Europe and preparing for armed conflict with Russia
- Zakharova claimed "cracks" between the United States and its NATO partners persist, citing the unresolved Greenland issue and perceived lack of alliance support when Washington felt it needed backing
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said disputes between U.S. President Donald Trump and other NATO leaders demonstrate the alliance's democratic strength and should serve as a lesson for Russian President Vladimir Putin
Why it matters: Russia cast NATO's €70 billion Ukraine commitment and $50 billion in unveiled arms deals as pushing Europe toward armed conflict, while the alliance's renewed Article 5 pledge and Rutte's public reframing of US-NATO friction as democratic strength signal NATO intends to project unity heading into 2026.
