By John Irish

PARIS, April 8 (Reuters) - France plans to add a further 36 billion euros ($39 billion) to its defence spending between now and 2030 under an updated military planning law that expands its nuclear arsenal and boosts missile and drone stocks.

The increase, proposed despite one of the euro zone's biggest budget deficits, reflects mounting security pressures from wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and growing uncertainty over U.S. commitments to NATO under President Donald Trump.

By Trevor Hunnicutt and Lili Bayer

WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS, April 8 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump welcomes NATO chief Mark Rutte to the White House on Wednesday, as the war with Iran has pushed U.S. relations with other members of the military alliance to a crisis point.

MOSCOW, April 8 (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Wednesday welcomed a two-week ceasefire agreed between the United States and Iran, and said Russia hopes that the U.S. will now have the time and scope to resume three-way peace talks on Ukraine.

In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We received the news of a truce with satisfaction. We welcome the decision not to proceed further down the path of armed escalation."

ISLAMABAD, April 8 (Reuters) - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed that Iran will participate in negotiations with the U.S. in Islamabad that seek to resolve their conflict, a statement from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office said on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad, writing by Hritam Mukherjee; Editing by YP Rajesh)

ISTANBUL, April 8 (Reuters) - Turkish authorities have detained 10 people in connection with Tuesday's gun attack near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul as the investigation widened, Turkish media reported on Wednesday.

One attacker was killed and two others were wounded in the extended gun battle with police outside the tower building in Istanbul's main financial district that houses the consulate.

April 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. and Iran have confirmed a two-week ceasefire following mediation by Pakistan.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire less than two hours before his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure.

Trump said the deal was contingent on Iran reopening the narrow channel, which handled about a fifth of global oil shipments before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.

KYIV, April 8 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday he welcomed the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, adding that Kyiv was ready to "respond in kind" if Moscow ceased strikes.

"Ukraine has always called for a ceasefire in the war waged by Russia here in Europe against our state and our people, and we support the ceasefire in the Middle East and the Gulf that paves the way for diplomatic efforts," he wrote on X.

"It is obvious to everyone that a ceasefire can create the right preconditions for agreements," he added.

Two French nationals who returned home Wednesday after being held for almost four years in Iran said they had never given up hope and would speak out about the "daily horror" of their Iranian prison.

Cecile Kohler, 41, and Jacques Paris, 72, landed in Paris earlier Wednesday, with President Emmanuel Macron hailing "the end of a terrible ordeal" before he greeted them at the Elysee Palace.

The pair, arrested on espionage charges their families have denied, were imprisoned for three years before being sent to house arrest at the French embassy last November.

VATICAN CITY, April 8 (Reuters) - Pope Leo said on Wednesday that he welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war with "great satisfaction".

The pope, who has ​emerged as an outspoken critic of the conflict in recent weeks, had said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's threats against the population of Iran were "unacceptable".

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee, editing by Giulia Segreti)

SEOUL, April 8 (Reuters) - South Korea's presidential Blue House said on Wednesday that the government would do its best to ensure the country's ships can pass through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible based on conditions created under a two-week ceasefire agreed between the U.S. and Iran, local media reported.

South Korea would consult with shipping companies and accelerate communication with related countries to ensure the passage of the ships, the reports said.