Rubio meets NATO leaders in Brussels as Russian envoy visits Washington

U.S. Secretary of State marker Rubio is in Brussels this week, meeting with NATO foreign ministers as questions grow about the Trump administration's position on Europe, Ukraine, and Russia

Rubio told allies the United States remains firmly committed to NATO, even as President Donald Trump is pushing for a major shift in defense spending

Trump wants all NATO members to spend 5% of their GDP on defense

That's more than double the current. 2% recommended benchmark. 23 of NATO's 32 members hit that benchmark last year

Rubio said Trump still supports the alliance but believes other countries need to shoulder

more of the burden. He also stressed the administration's focus on ending the war in Ukraine, a position that

has some European leaders worried about a possible rush to compromise with Moscow

President Trump's new tariffs on EU imports added another later. of tension to the talks

Some European officials fear he could use NATO policy to influence trade terms or to scale back military aid to Ukraine NATO Secretary General Mark Ruta noted European members already boosted defense spending at the fastest pace since the Cold War but he admitted more work lies ahead

The alliance expects to set new spending targets this summer, but Rubio said the United States

wants to see a clear roadmap now. Meanwhile, back in Washington, a Kremlin official under U.S. sanctions is scheduled to meet

with Trump administration representatives. Carrille Dmitrieve, a top Russian investment envoy, will visit under a temporary waiver granted by U.S. officials

Trump envoy, Steve Whitkoff, invited him to D.C. last week. Dmitrived called the meetings a chance to reopen U.S. Russia dialogue

which he said broke down under the Biden administration. Dmitriv mentioned possible cooperation on energy, investment, and security

but so far, neither side. announced any agreements. These parallel diplomatic moves are signs of the Trump administration's

broader strategy to reset relations with both Europe and Russia. For more of our unbiased

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