The defense ministers of Europe's five top military spenders said Monday they want to continue increasing their investments in defense but described meeting President-elect Donald Trump's challenge for them to raise spending to 5% of their overall economic output as complicated.

Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard has reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to bolstering NATO’s integrated air and missile defence capabilities.

Poland, which borders both Russia and Ukraine, aims to spend 4.7 percent of its GDP on defense this year — by far the highest of any NATO member. The United Kingdom, France and Germany spend nearer to 2 percent — the current NATO target — while Italy languishes at 1.49 percent.

Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, joined Defence Ministers in Helenów, Poland, from the Group of Five nations: France, Germany, Italy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he has held further discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron about the possibility of Western troops deploying in Ukraine to safeguard any peace deal ending the nearly three-year war with Russia.

Defence Ministers from Poland, Germany, France, Italy and the UK met in Warsaw on Monday to discuss European security matters in a new five-way format established in the wake of Donald Trump's US presidential election win.

Germany, the UK, France, Poland, and Italy are looking to enhance defence production by cutting regulations and streamlining processes, according to a report

Defense ministers from Poland Germany France Britain and Italy so-called the European Five E5 gathered in Poland on Monday for a meeting to tal

"In my opinion, that’s what matters." From left: Luke Pollard, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Britain's Ministry of Defence, Poland's Minister of National Defence Wladyslaw ...

The defense ministers of Europe’s five top military spenders say they intend to continue increasing their investments in defense but described President-elect Donald Trump’s challenge for them to raise spending to 5% of their overall economic output as extremely difficult.

According to a news release from the Ministry of Defence, the meeting resulted in a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to Ukraine’s self-defence and enhancing European security. Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, represented the UK at the discussions.

BRUSSELS: Ukraine is not currently in a strong enough position for peace talks with Russia, NATO chief Mark Rutte said Monday, as US president-elect Donald Trump gears up to take power.