The United States has appointed Lieutenant General Alexus G. Grynkewich as the next Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), a decision welcomed by NATO allies amid growing concerns over the alliance’s future posture toward Russia. The appointment comes just weeks before a pivotal NATO summit in The Hague and signals Washington’s continued military commitment to Europe.

Lt. Gen. Grynkewich, who will also serve as the top U.S. general in Europe, will succeed General Christopher G. Cavoli in the summer of 2025 following national confirmation procedures. NATO has traditionally looked to the United States to fill the SACEUR position, a practice dating back to 1951 when General Dwight D. Eisenhower held the inaugural role.

“There is a sense of relief across NATO,” a U.S.-based official told Euronews, noting that recent speculation over whether Washington might relinquish the leadership post had sparked unease. “This is a positive sign of American engagement and staffing.”

In parallel, NATO defence ministers have agreed to a sweeping set of new spending targets, committing member states to increase defence budgets to 5% of GDP. The updated strategy breaks down this figure into 3.5% for “core defence” needs—such as heavy weapons, tanks, and air defence systems—and 1.5% for related areas like cyber capabilities, surveillance, and infrastructure. The specifics of how these targets will be implemented are still under negotiation.

“These targets describe exactly what capabilities Allies need to invest in over the coming years,” said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. He stressed the urgency of these measures, warning that without immediate action, NATO could face serious security risks in the near future.

“If we don’t act now, the next three years we are fine,” Rutte said. “But from three, four, or five years from now, we are really under threat.”

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Mathew Whitaker echoed the sentiment, urging allies to make “credible progress” on defence investment. “Our adversaries are not waiting for us to be ready,” he said, while also emphasizing the importance of Europe stepping up its support for Ukraine.

Despite the renewed show of unity, concerns remain over the direction of U.S. policy under President Trump, particularly regarding Ukraine. According to the same U.S. official, Trump may push to limit Ukraine’s presence at the upcoming NATO summit, citing its non-member status. “Trump just doesn’t care about Europe—it doesn’t help him politically,” the source added.

The Hague summit, scheduled for late June, is expected to solidify NATO’s new defence targets and address the alliance’s role in long-term support for Ukraine.

What began as jubilant celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain’s historic UEFA Champions League victory ended in violence and tragedy in parts of France, with two people killed and nearly 200 injured during street festivities that spiraled out of control.

Authorities confirmed on Sunday that a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in the southwestern town of Dax during a PSG street gathering, while in Paris, a man died after his scooter was struck by a car amid the crowded celebrations. Both incidents are currently under investigation.

The unrest followed PSG’s dramatic win in Munich, where the club secured its first-ever Champions League title, marking a milestone in French football history. While fans across the country took to the streets to celebrate, several areas descended into violence.

According to the French Interior Ministry, a total of 294 people were arrested nationwide as of 2 a.m. Sunday. Of the nearly 200 injured, 21 were police officers—18 of them in Paris alone. One officer remains in a medically induced coma after being struck in the face by a firework.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the violence in a statement on social media. “True PSG fans are celebrating a magnificent achievement. Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets to commit crimes and provoke law enforcement,” he said. “It is unacceptable that people cannot celebrate without being endangered by a violent minority.”

Despite the unrest, the majority of gatherings were peaceful, authorities noted, with large crowds celebrating the historic win in cities including Marseille, Lyon, and Lille.

The PSG squad returned to Paris from Munich on Sunday afternoon aboard a Qatar Airways charter flight, arriving at 4 p.m. The team is expected to continue celebrations in the capital with tens of thousands of fans, under heightened security measures.

The violent turn of events has reignited debate in France over crowd control during major sporting celebrations, and how best to ensure public safety without dampening national enthusiasm.

PSG’s Champions League triumph marks a defining moment for the club, which has long pursued European glory. As the team prepares for a hero’s welcome, officials are urging fans to celebrate responsibly and respect public safety.

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has claimed responsibility for a large-scale drone strike on four Russian air bases over the weekend, targeting dozens of strategic bombers across vast swaths of Russian territory — from Siberia to the Arctic.

According to Ukrainian officials, the operation, codenamed “Spiderweb” (Pavutyna), was launched on June 1 and struck 41 long-range bombers stationed at airfields in Russia’s Ryazan, Ivanovo, Irkutsk, and Murmansk regions. The attack is being hailed by Kyiv as one of its most ambitious and far-reaching strikes since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

“Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia,” a senior SBU official said, noting that the operation was specifically designed to cripple Moscow’s airstrike capabilities. “This is a large-scale special operation aimed at destroying enemy bomber aircraft.”

The four airfields targeted were Dyagilevo in the Ryazan region, Ivanovo in central Russia, Belaya air base in Irkutsk — over 4,000 kilometers from the front lines — and Olenya air base on the Kola Peninsula near the Arctic, roughly 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine’s border.

Ukrainian officials described the complex logistics of the operation, which involved covertly transporting drones deep into Russian territory, hiding them until the time of launch, and remotely executing the strikes. While specific details remain classified, Ukraine previously revealed it had developed drones with a flight range of up to 3,000 kilometers, enabling long-range operations like this.

Satellite imagery analyzed after the attack shows the presence of several high-value Russian aircraft types at the affected bases, including the Tu-95, Tu-22M3, Tu-160, and A-50 radar planes. These aircraft have been central to Russia’s long-range missile campaign against Ukraine.

The Tu-22M3, for example, is capable of carrying Kh-22 and Kh-32 cruise missiles at speeds exceeding Mach 4. The Tu-95, a Cold War-era bomber once designed to carry nuclear weapons, has been retrofitted to launch conventional cruise missiles. The A-50 aircraft provides airborne radar surveillance and target coordination for Russian forces.

The scale of the strike underscores Ukraine’s growing long-range capabilities and signals a shift in Kyiv’s strategy to disrupt Russian air operations at their source. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had held meetings with the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs, along with the General Staff and SBU, to coordinate further defense and counter-offensive planning.

There has been no immediate official response from Moscow regarding the extent of damage caused.