DISCOVER UKRAINE

By Borys Khmelovskyi

NATO summits represent pivotal moments at which Alliance member states adopt strategic decisions concerning collective security, defense policy, and engagement with partners. These outcomes carry global significance, shaping the architecture of international security, defining responses to emerging threats, and directly influencing regional stability. For Ukraine, which aspires to full membership in the European Union, NATO’s decisions exert both direct and indirect influence over its ability to fulfill the EU’s accession criteria—particularly in the fields of security and defense.

The 2025 NATO Summit, held in The Hague on 24–25 June 2025, marked a historic milestone in the evolution of transatlantic security and international law. Against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, the Summit produced decisions with far-reaching implications for the system of collective security and the broader European integration process.

Transformative Shift in Defense Spending Commitments

Foremost among these decisions was the adoption of a new defense spending benchmark: member states committed to allocating 5% of their GDP to defense by 2035, a substantial increase from the previous 2% target. This measure constitutes a paradigmatic shift in the legal and financial framework underpinning Euro-Atlantic security.

From a legal standpoint, this decision imposes new obligations upon NATO member states, including EU countries, potentially necessitating amendments to national budgetary legislation and constitutional provisions governing defense appropriations. For Ukraine, this development underscores the need to devise a long-term strategy for aligning its defense expenditures with NATO’s evolving standards, in view of both its security needs and its aspirations for EU accession.

Sustained Support for Ukraine

The Alliance reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to Ukraine by pledging an additional €35 billion in security assistance for the year 2025. This decision carries significant legal weight, as it establishes a precedent for sustained, long-term NATO engagement with partner states that have not yet attained membership status.

Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)

The decisions adopted at the 2025 NATO Summit have a direct bearing on the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. The increase in defense expenditures among NATO members that are also EU member states creates new opportunities for the further development of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

For Ukraine, this entails a renewed imperative to demonstrate compatibility with European standards in the security and defense domains. Ukraine’s participation in the EUMAM Ukraine program, through which 75,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been trained by February 2025, illustrates substantial progress in this direction.

Defense Requirements and Security Standards

The newly introduced NATO benchmarks for defense spending impose additional challenges for Ukraine on its path to EU membership. The country must not only comply with the acquis communautaire but also prove its capacity to sustain adequate defense capabilities in accordance with evolving transatlantic standards.

From a legal perspective, Ukraine will be required to align its defense and security legislation with European norms while ensuring consistency with NATO obligations. This necessitates a comprehensive overhaul of domestic legal frameworks related to national security, defense procurement, and military-technical cooperation.

Legal Foundations of European Integration

The acquis communautaire encompasses the full body of legal norms, principles, and policy obligations that candidate countries must adopt in order to accede to the EU. In the field of security and defense, this includes:

• Provisions on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (Title V TEU)
• The Common Security and Defence Policy (Articles 42–46 TEU)
• The mutual defense clause (Article 42(7) TEU)

Towards a New Security Architecture

The outcomes of the 2025 NATO Summit contribute to the emergence of a new European security architecture, within which Ukraine can play a pivotal role as a bridge between Euro-Atlantic and European institutions.

Recommendations for Future Development

For Ukraine:

• Formulate a comprehensive strategy for aligning national legislation with the requirements of both NATO and the EU.
• Establish dedicated legal mechanisms to coordinate overlapping international obligations.
• Strengthen institutional capacity in the security and defense sectors.

For the International Community:

• Develop harmonized standards between NATO and the EU applicable to candidate countries.
• Introduce flexible legal instruments to accommodate states pursuing dual accession paths.
• Enhance coordination among relevant international institutions.

Conclusion

The 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague represents a turning point in the evolution of transatlantic security and European integration. The landmark decision to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP establishes new legal and financial realities for all Euro-Atlantic stakeholders.

For Ukraine, these decisions offer both promising opportunities and significant challenges on its path toward EU membership. Successful integration will require a holistic approach encompassing legislative adaptation, institutional development, and a careful balancing of overlapping international commitments.

The legal consequences of these developments will unfold in the years ahead, shaping a new international legal order in the field of security and defense. Ukraine, as a central actor in this process, is uniquely positioned to contribute to the development of innovative legal mechanisms that may serve as a model for other countries facing similar strategic crossroads.