Trump says US is committed to NATO defense, knocks Russia over Ukraine

WARSAW – Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump said on July 6 that the United States had demonstrated its commitment to NATO’s defense through words and actions, and called on Russia to end its “destabilizing” action in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world.

Trump’s reference to Article Five of the NATO treaty, which guarantees that alliance members will defend each other, represented a change of tone from the president, who upset U.S. allies by not mentioning support for the provision during a trip to NATO headquarters in May.

His criticism of Russia comes ahead of his first face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Germany on July 7.

“We urge Russia to cease its destabilizing activities in Ukraine and elsewhere and its support for hostile regimes including Syria and Iran, and to instead join the community of responsible nations in our fight against common enemies and the defense of civilization itself,” Trump said in a speech in Warsaw.   

World leaders are gathering in the city for a meeting of the Group of 20 economic powers.

Trump spent the first half of the day in Poland, delivering a speech and holding a joint press conference with Poland’s president.

He’s set to meet later Thursday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and attend a Northeast Asia Security Dinner with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.