Rutte responds to Moscow's nuclear threats, and the UK leader weighs re-joining the EU

Key Points:

• NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte urged Russia to cease nuclear threats following Moscow's warning to deploy nuclear weapons if its territory, including Kaliningrad, is attacked, emphasizing NATO's defensive stance and readiness to protect its members.
• Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev called for European dialogue with Russia to prevent nuclear conflict, while European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius argued that diplomatic engagement might embolden Putin and undermine Ukraine.
• The EU debate on prioritizing domestic defense companies faced criticism from NATO's Rutte and US Ambassador Andrew Puzder, who warned that focusing on regional economics over weapon superiority could weaken defense capabilities against powerful adversaries.
• EU Home Affairs Ministers met in Luxembourg to discuss migration, including proposed measures under the European Emergency Response Framework aimed at tackling irregular arrivals, with Italy extending border controls with Spain amid tensions over migrant influx in Ceuta.
• French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s suggestion of potentially rejoining the EU, signaling openness to renewed UK-EU ties after Brexit.