NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday called for stronger support for Ukraine as Russian pressure increases on the country’s eastern front.
Rutte stressed the need to “do more than just keep Ukraine in the fight” shortly before meeting French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
‘We have to increase the costs for this [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and his authoritarian friends, by giving Ukraine the support it needs to change the trajectory of the conflict,” Rutte said in a NATO press statement.
He also emphasized the long-term commitment required from Western partners, especially as Ukraine faces what could be its toughest winter since the start of the war in 2022.
After his meeting with Macron, Rutte pointed out that Russia is continuing its attack on Ukraine while strengthening its alliances with China, Iran and North Korea.
“We must stand together – Europe, North America and our global partners – to keep our people safe and prosperous,” Rutte said.
He noted progress made in strengthening NATO’s defense industry and manufacturing capabilities, but called for increased defense spending to further reduce the risk of future conflict.
“The more we spend on defense, the more we reduce the risk of future conflicts,” Rutte said.
Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, took over as NATO secretary general on October 1.
