According to Bloomberg, the negotiations have dragged on due to disputes over several key points in the document. One of them is Poland’s proposal to expand NATO’s pipeline network eastward. Warsaw is insisting on funding for the project, which was established during the Cold War and connects military facilities in Western Europe.
The plan involves expanding the infrastructure through Germany to Poland, and further on to the Czech Republic and the Baltic states. Poland and a number of Eastern European countries believe that the system should serve a dual purpose: to be used for fuel supplies in peacetime and for military needs in the event of a crisis.
The second contentious issue is support for Ukraine. According to Bloomberg, the draft statement provides for the allocation of approximately 70 billion euros in 2026–2027 as part of an EU loan program. Italy advocates softening the wording and wants to remove specific deadlines, fearing that they could limit potential negotiations to resolve the conflict.
However, as sources note, support for Ukraine itself is not being called into question.
The final text of the NATO statement has not yet been agreed upon.
