NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed satisfaction with the discussions held in Brussels במסגרת the NATO Defence Ministers’ Summit, emphasizing the strengthening of deterrence and defense capabilities, as well as continued support for Ukraine.
Rutte underlined that the implementation of commitments to increase defense spending, approved in June in The Hague, demonstrates “a real shift in mindset and a much stronger European defense within NATO.” He stressed that growing demand must be matched by increased production, adding that “quantity, quality, and speed” are needed through strengthening defense industries and expanding production lines on both sides of the Atlantic.
Regarding disagreements within the Alliance, including the issue of Greenland, Rutte said that debates are normal. “There will always be discussions and disagreements in NATO. It would be very boring if there weren’t any. I am not worried about that,” he stated.
Ukraine was also a central focus of the meeting, attended for the first time by the new Ukrainian Minister of Defence, Mykhailo Fedorov, who participated in the NATO Council. Rutte praised Ukraine’s role in technological innovation on the battlefield and condemned the continued Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure, stressing that NATO “stands by Ukraine.”
Asked about the absence of U.S. Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth at the summit, Rutte highlighted the participation of his deputy, Elbridge Colby, and stated that “the United States is fully committed to NATO.”
Regarding the possibility of direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rutte said that U.S. President Donald Trump had unlocked the peace negotiation process in February and that any initiative must be coordinated and transparent among allies. “We have one single goal: to end the war so that Russia never attacks Ukraine again,” he said.
In conclusion, Rutte emphasized that the peace process, led by the United States with the participation of Russia and Ukraine, must guarantee credible security for Kyiv in the future. “Ukraine needs strong security guarantees,” he concluded.
