German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted the leaders of Britain, France, Italy, and Poland in Berlin for a meeting of the European Group of Five (E5) ahead of next month’s NATO summit in Ankara. The five heads of government issued a joint statement pledging to increase backing for Ukraine’s defense against Russia, including through new sanctions and economic measures. Merz said that a successful NATO summit would reinforce transatlantic cooperation with the United States, adding that the process also unifies European nations—a reference to the broader sentiment among the leaders present. The July 7–8 summit will include U.S. President Donald Trump and leaders from 32 countries, and Merz indicated he would brief both Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the Berlin talks.