Rutte: NATO must spend more on defence, support Ukraine to preserve peace in Europe

Europe’s security directly depends on increased defence spending by NATO member states and maintaining Ukraine’s maximum military capabilities, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Sunday.

Rutte said the Alliance must meet two key conditions to guarantee peace: boosting defence spending and military production and providing comprehensive support to Ukraine in its war against Russia.

He warned that the consequences for NATO would be far more severe if Russia were to occupy all of Ukraine, requiring higher costs for the Alliance.

“We are ensuring that Christmas and the period beyond remain safe. But to do that, we must increase military spending and make sure that Ukraine remains as strong as possible. If Russia were to gain control over all of Ukraine, the consequences for NATO would be serious and we would have to spend much more,” Rutte said.

The NATO Secretary General also addressed the scale of losses suffered by the Russian army. According to NATO estimates, Russia has lost up to 1.1 million people killed and wounded in a year, while gaining less than one percent of Ukrainian territory.

“Putin is willing to sacrifice 1.1 million of his own citizens for minimal territorial gains. This is horrific, but it is the reality we are facing,” Rutte said.

He highlighted that regardless of who leads Russia in the future, NATO must remain prepared for potential threats.

“We must not be naive. We need to invest in defence, strengthen our capabilities and attract the best people so they are ready for any challenge,” the NATO Secretary General said.