Croatia is ranked among the top six countries in the world providing the highest level of assistance to Ukraine relative to their GDP, according to Frano Matošić, State Secretary at the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking after representing Croatia at the NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Matošić emphasized that Zagreb has already delivered 14 bilateral military aid packages to Ukraine and is preparing the 15th package.
Croatia’s Support: Military, Humanitarian, and Technical
Matošić underlined that when all forms of assistance are counted — military, humanitarian, energy-related, and technical — Croatia ranks at the very top globally in terms of contributions proportional to its economic output.
He also highlighted Croatia’s specialized support in treating wounded Ukrainian soldiers, assisting people with disabilities in the Ukrainian military, and contributing expertise in de-mining, a field in which Croatia has extensive experience from the Homeland War.
Commitment to Defense and to Ukraine’s Sovereignty
Croatia plans to allocate 3% of its GDP to military equipment by 2030, reflecting a broader NATO trend of strengthening defensive capabilities.
All NATO ministers participating in the meeting reaffirmed their support for a just and lasting peace that fully respects Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and sovereignty.
Asked whether the United States also upheld this principle, Matošić stated that all participants spoke in favor of a peace built on international law, not territorial concessions.
Questions Over U.S. Representation — and NATO Unity
The meeting also drew attention because U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was absent, represented instead by Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau. Matošić noted that this issue was mentioned regarding NATO’s unity, but emphasized that Washington is simultaneously managing multiple global crises, including the Middle East and Venezuela.
Russia Must Not Be Rewarded – and Its Influence in the Balkans Remains Dangerous
Matošić insisted that Russia, as the aggressor, must not be rewarded, and sanctions must remain in place. He also stressed that Ukrainians are, in practice, defending the borders of the EU and NATO, and therefore deserve unwavering support.
The meeting additionally addressed the Western Balkans, a region ministers described as highly vulnerable to instability and hostile influence — especially from Moscow.
Matošić explicitly warned about:
- Russia Today and Sputnik, which operate freely in Serbia, despite being sanctioned in the EU;
- Recent activities in Belgrade involving Sergey Naryshkin, one of Vladimir Putin’s closest allies and head of Russia’s foreign intelligence service;
- The visible malign Russian footprint in Bosnia and Herzegovina and across the wider region.
He stressed that NATO must increase its attention on the Western Balkans, prepare detailed documents for the spring ministerial, and further institutionalize the region’s presence at the upcoming NATO Summit in Turkey.
