Europe Today NATO chief Mark Rutte joins Euronews' Defence and Space Summit in Brussels
Sep 30, 2026
Sasha Vakulina, Euronews’ Ukraine correspondent, examines Kyiv’s race to build interceptor drones against Russian strikes. Shona Murray, NATO correspondent, explores alliance unity, Patriot shortages and hybrid attacks. Europe editor Maria Tadeo discusses defense spending, procurement and her interview with NATO chief Mark Rutte. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya assesses Lukashenko’s dependence on Moscow and the risks to NATO’s eastern flank.
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Europe’s Defense Spending Faces A Delivery Test
- Europe’s defense debate now combines Ukraine’s escalating war, Russian hybrid attacks, procurement delays, and uncertainty over dependence on the United States.
- Maria Tadeo says new spending must become usable capability, not merely announced budgets, while NATO’s strategy shifts toward greater European responsibility.
Rutte Must Hold NATO Together
- Mark Rutte must increase European defense spending without losing active American participation in NATO.
- Maria Tadeo describes the alliance as fragile because wars in Ukraine and Iran give Donald Trump substantial influence over its direction.
Ukraine Races To Build Jet Drone Interceptors
- Kyiv residents heard at least ten explosions while air defenses intercepted missiles and drones around 3 a.m.
- Ukraine is battlefield-testing interceptors for jet-powered drones and aims to scale production before winter.