North Atlantic Treaty Organization

The Estonian government is actively considering the deployment of troops to western Ukraine for rear support roles, aiming to alleviate Ukrainian forces from non-direct combat duties and enable them to focus on frontline engagements.

Sweden will always remember Greece's support for its NATO membership bid, the Scandinavian country's minister for European affairs, Jessika Roswall, said in Parliament in Athens on Tuesday. 

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have a "unique and historical opportunity to consolidate the steps taken so far" in relations between their two countries, according to Marc Pierini, a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe and former European Union ambassador to Turkey.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia is prepared if the West chooses to engage in a conflict over Ukraine. Lavrov made these remarks during a parliamentary hearing discussing the formation of the new government.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia has urged the country's politicians, particularly elected state officials, to exercise caution in adhering to the Prespa Treaty signed with Greece in 2018, which altered the country's name and secured NATO membership.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Monday he was open to allowing nuclear weapons on Swedish soil in wartime, as critics call for the new NATO member to ban their deployment.

Defense Minister Yaşar Güler has criticized Germany for imposing arms export restrictions on Türkiye, alleging that such actions amount to an embargo on NATO.

"Germany is our friend and ally. A NATO member is imposing an embargo on another," Güler said in an interview with daily Milliyet on May 12.

North Macedonia's Foreign Ministry on Monday issued a statement affirming the country's "unwavering commitment to fully respect constitutional provisions and all internationally assumed obligations," including the Prespa Agreement signed with Greece, which settled the longstanding name dispute between the two countries.

Bulgaria stands firm in its refusal to accept any statements or actions from the Republic of North Macedonia that run counter to the 2017 Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighbourliness and Cooperation, as well as other international agreements to which North Macedonia is a signatory.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will visit Turkey on Monday for talks with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan aimed at maintaining the positive momentum achieved in bilateral ties in recent months despite lingering problems between the neighbors.