News update, Saturday 23 July 11.00 GMT: The last two hostages held in Erebuni police headquarters in Armenia have been released. The armed men who stormed the building on Sunday have not yet surrendered.

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.

On Wednesday afternoon (25 June), NATO member states unanimously agreed to increase the NATO standard for defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP over the next ten years. This is stated in the final joint declaration of the NATO summit in The Hague, published on the same day.