Top European leaders aim to send 'a strong signal of support for Ukraine' at the NATO summit in Ankara in July, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on June 28.
Speaking in Berlin, where he chaired the summit of the European Five (E5) group with leaders from the UK, France, Italy, and Poland, Merz stressed: 'The message to Russia is: Ukraine remains strong.'
The meeting followed a video call between E5 leaders and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The NATO summit in the Turkish capital is scheduled for July 7–8, with leaders from all 32 member states attending, including U.S. President Donald Trump.
German Chancellor Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk signed a joint declaration pledging to 'continue substantial support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression, including through sanctions and economic pressure on Russia, as well as support for Ukraine's energy sector resilience.'
Merz added that a successful summit would strengthen transatlantic ties with the U.S. 'and unites us as Europeans.' The German chancellor also said he would report on the Berlin discussions to President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Al Jazeera correspondent Dominic Kane in Berlin noted that Merz is signaling to the wider world—and possibly to two specific individuals, Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin—that the E5 countries are ready to play their role in NATO. Kane emphasized that the meeting echoed the spirit of last week's EU summit, with a 'clear commitment to increase defense spending to bolster Ukraine.'
The declaration came after Trump said he would do everything possible to end the Russia-Ukraine war, following what he called a 'very good' meeting at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, last week.
President Macron and Prime Minister Meloni said Europe would be ready at the NATO summit for a military mission in the Strait of Hormuz. However, both said several conditions must be met, including the U.S. and Iran finalizing a memorandum of understanding covering nuclear inspections and frozen assets that had led to a ceasefire.
European leaders also praised outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his work over the past two years. Chancellor Merz highlighted Starmer's 'teamwork'; President Macron commended his 'correct strategic decisions'; and Prime Minister Meloni noted 'excellent cooperation.' Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a known Anglophile, even said Starmer's commitment had made Europe a united force again, and leaders had 'forgotten Brexit for a while.'
