Iran and NATO summit live: Trump to speak as NATO agrees spending pledge - after repeatedly rejecting reports about US Iran strikes

Sky News

25-06-2025

Rutte thinks Trump 'deserves all the praise' when asked by Sky about flattery
NATO's chief has been under the spotlight over the past 24 hours for his language towards Donald Trump.
The president shared a text he received from Mark Rutte yesterday, written with particularly gushing language.
Today, he referred to him as "daddy" when it comes to resolving the Iran-Israel conflict - see our 13.22 post for more on that.
Our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes asked at his news conference a short while ago if this flattery makes him look weak.
"No, I don't think so, I think it's a bit of a question of taste, but I think he's a good friend," he said.
He also credited Trump for driving an increased commitment among the alliance to up defence spending.
Rutte added: "Doesn't he deserve some praise?
"And when it comes to Iran, the fact that he took this decisive action, very targeted, to make sure that Iran would not be able to get its hands on a nuclear capability, I think he deserves all the praise."
Watch the moment Haynes asks her question below:
Kremlin: US and Iran disagree about damage caused by strikes
Iran and the United States disagree about the amount of damage caused by American bombing raids on Iranian nuclear facilities.
That's according to Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov.
Speaking earlier, he said Moscow welcomes the ceasefire between Iran and Israel and hopes it lasts.
But he stressed the fundamentally different explanations about the US strikes on Iran.
"The one that carried out the strikes believes significant damage was inflicted," the Russian official said.
"And the one who received these strikes believes that everything was prepared in advance and that these objects did not suffer excessive, significant damage," Ushakov told reporters.
Watch below: Sky's Tom Clarke explains why some Iranian nuclear sites were spared and not attacked by Israeli or US bombers
A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry said earlier on Wednesday that the US strikes had caused significant damage to Tehran's nuclear facilities.
Earlier in the day, the Kremlin had said it thought it was too early for anyone to have an accurate picture of the extent of damage caused.
NATO's Article 5 explained - watch and read
Deborah Haynes, Sky's defence and security editor, is at The Hague for today's NATO summit.
Going into the gathering, Donald Trump cast doubt on his commitment to and interpretation of the alliance's Article 5 - the agreement that an attack on one member is an attack on all of them.
But as she explained earlier, the alliance has since committed to the principle.
Haynes explains why Article 5 is so important in the video below:
You can also read more about the history of the commitment in our explainer from foreign news reporter Michael Drummond - just click below.
Trump and Zelenskyy meet on sidelines of summit
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague.
We'll bring you more details on this as we get them.
Putin 'must stop dragging his heels', Starmer says - as he's asked whether Trump will get tough on Russia
Asked about Donald Trump's comments about the situation in Ukraine being "totally out of control", Sir Keir Starmer calls on Vladimir Putin to "stop dragging his heels and get to the [negotiating] table".
Replying to a question on whether Trump will get tougher on Russia, the prime minister says the mood of all NATO members was one of "positivity and resolve and purpose" in "the strength and unity of NATO".
"But at the same time, recognising that, we need to now push harder on Ukraine," he adds.
"Certainly my position has been for some considerable time now that Putin must stop dragging his heels and get to the table."
He says all of the discussions at the NATO summit "have been urging that outcome".
'It's important I lead from the front,' PM says
The prime minister is now asked about the massive pledges he is making ad questioned on whether he thinks he will be around to lead these plans into the next parliament.
"Very confident," Starmer says.
He says "it is really important I lead from the front" and "take the long term decisions".
"We are living in a more volatile world and we have to rise to that challenge," he says.
NATO position on Ukraine has not changed despite lack of condemnation of Russia, Starmer says
NATO's position on Ukraine has not changed, Sir Keir Starmer has said, despite there being no condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in the alliance's joint communique today.
Asked by Sky News's political editor Beth Rigby whether he was disappointed the statement had less of a focus on Ukraine than previous statements, the prime minister said his position had not changed.
"In fact, over the last couple of days, I would say my discussions with leaders - there's been a real resolve," he said.
He said "now is the time to push again to get Putin to the table for the unconditional ceasefire".
He added: "President Zelenskyy has, for many weeks now, indicated his willingness to go for an unconditional ceasefire.
"Now is the time for Putin, who has been dragging his heels, to come to the table."
Starmer: Europe needs to make a fundamental shift in its posture
Sir Keir Starmer is now addressing world leaders at The Hague and begins by addressing the ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
He says now leaders need to make sure "the ceasefire holds" and get Iran back around the negotiating table with the US.
The prime minister says he is in close contact with leaders in the Middle East and is working "to lower the temperature" in the region.
He says focus should also not be lost on Ukraine or the rising threats to Europe-Atlantic security.
He says Europe "needs to make a fundamental shift in its posture".
Starmer says the UK will spend 5% of GDP on defence and security by 2035.
Rutte celebrates 'significant commitment' in response to 'threats to our security'
We're now hearing from NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, who is praising alliance members for agreeing to invest 5% of their GDP in defence and security spending.
"This is a significant commitment in response to significant threats to our security," he says.
This is "all to ensure we can effectively deter aggression and defend ourselves and each other should anyone make the mistake of attacking."
He adds: "All allies are united in understanding that we need to step up to stay safe and they are acting on it.
"President Trump has been clear, America is committed to NATO. He affirmed that again today in no uncertain terms. At the same time, he made clear America expects European allies to commit more, and that is what we see them doing."
He says the allies are "in this together, committed to Article 5, and we are determined to stand firm".
Ukraine 'has our continued support'
The alliance "stands firmly with our neighbour and partner Ukraine," he adds, saying the alliance's resounding message to Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people "is that Ukraine has our continued support".
He adds: "Our aim is to keep Ukraine in the fight today so that it can enjoy a lasting peace in the future."
Intel leak 'unfair to US pilots', Trump says
Donald Trump is speaking briefly to reporters with the Netherlands Prime Minister Dick Schoof.
Addressing the leaked US intel, reported on by American media outlets, he says it is "unfair to the pilots" who "flew into a hornet's nest".
The reports suggested that, contrary to Trump's claims, the US bombing raids he ordered on Iran's nuclear sites did not "obliterate" the Iranian facilities or the regime's ability to make a nuclear weapon.
But Trump says the pilots did an "unbelievable job".
"They should be admired and respected for what they did," he adds.
He also repeats his claims that the sites were destroyed - opting for the word "demolished" this time.
Trump is expected to speak again in a news conference shortly, after his brief remarks alongside Schoof.