If the Russians do something deliberately against NATO, we have all the capabilities to defend ourselves, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters today before the start of the meeting of defense ministers of the pact countries in Brussels, BTA reported.
There were questions about whether NATO is in a position to take decisive action when something happens in our airspace - I assure you that we can react, he added. There is an opinion in society that any Russian plane in violation should be shot down, I do not agree with that, Rutte pointed out.
According to him, providing the Ukrainian side with long-range missiles is a bilateral issue that will not be discussed today. According to Rutte, Russia's progress in Ukraine this year has been very limited.
Defense ministers from NATO and EU countries are meeting in Brussels today for a day of talks focused on the threat posed by Russia, military spending, European defense capabilities and support for Ukraine, DPA reported, BTA reports.
The NATO ministers plan to begin consultations with their first meeting since the Western defense alliance launched a new mission in September to better protect the airspace of Eastern European countries after a series of airspace violations by Russia.
Another topic that will be discussed is the drastic increase in military spending agreed by NATO leaders in June after pressure from the United States. The meeting is expected to be attended by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmygal will join his NATO colleagues in the early afternoon for talks on the battlefield situation and Kiev's needs in confronting Russia.
The talks are also scheduled to be followed by a meeting of the Contact Group on Defense Assistance to Ukraine, an international group for raising and coordinating military aid to Ukraine, which includes about 40 countries. The group, previously led by the US, is now led by Britain and Germany.
This evening, the 27 EU defence ministers will discuss how to improve the bloc's defence preparedness ahead of a summit of its leaders later this month.
Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov will take part in today's talks between NATO and EU defence ministers in Brussels, as well as in the meeting of the Contact Group on Defence Assistance to Ukraine.