Russian drones were recently brought down over Poland, marking the first direct encounter between NATO and Russia since the Ukraine invasion began. Leaders throughout Europe are on high alert, questioning how effectively the alliance can respond to escalating tensions.

Germany is set to break with decades of minimal defense investment by doubling its military budget. Chancellor Friedrich Merz seeks to build Europe’s strongest armed forces, raising questions about the best ways to allocate this historic funding.

Former President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European officials that Washington could support a European force to keep the peace in Ukraine. The meeting, marked by mutual praise and security-focused discussion, ended with agreement to reconvene.