The allied countries have already promised in the first three months of this year military support worth over 20 billion euros for Ukraine and will continue to support Kiev,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Wednesday at a press conference in Brussels.
Rutte stated that the meeting of NATO foreign ministers, taking place on Thursday and Friday at the headquarters of the North Atlantic Alliance, will focus on strengthening common defense in the Euro-Atlantic region, “the foundation upon which NATO was built and remains our number one priority.”
“I am absolutely convinced that this alliance is here to stay, with the United States. Their commitment is absolutely clear,” stated Mark Rutte, who will be meeting with American Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday.
In addition, the foreign ministers of the North Atlantic Alliance will discuss the continuation of support for Ukraine and increasing cooperation with the European Union in the defense sector.
Regarding Ukraine, the senior NATO official mentioned that the center in Wiesbaden (Germany) will continue to coordinate military assistance for Kiev and training for Ukrainian soldiers. In recent weeks, concerns have been raised about the possibility of significant cuts in American support for Ukraine, in the context of efforts by President Donald Trump to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine.
Last year, NATO countries provided approximately 50 billion euros in support for Ukraine.
The American administration, through the voice of President Donald Trump, has continuously urged European countries in NATO to increase their defense spending up to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP), which is over double the 2% target set at the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014.
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