The Ukrainian president argued that the absence of NATO membership and concrete security guarantees contributed to Russia’s decision to launch the full-scale invasion.

European defence sector stocks rose on Wednesday after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called for higher spending from NATO allies. All leading European arms makers, including Rheinmetall, Dassault Aviation,

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on Donald Trump's statement, in which he expressed he "could understand the feelings" of Russia and Putin regarding the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO. As reported by Interfax-Ukraine,

Zelensky as played down concerns over comments by Trump that he understood why Russia does not want Ukraine to join the NATO defense alliance.

European defence stocks rallied on Wednesday after President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed his stance on increasing NATO spending and highlighted Greenland's strategic importance during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday.

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday urged NATO members to increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP. Donald Trump continues to hammer home his claims that these countries pay too little to be protected by the US.