No one should ever think of attacking us, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said today at a press conference on the eve of tomorrow's meeting of defense ministers from the pact in Brussels. Article 5 of the Washington Treaty is unshakable and anyone who tries anything will see that, he added, BTA reported.
Rutte announced that defense ministers will discuss plans to significantly increase military spending and acquire additional capabilities. According to him, each country in the alliance must decide for itself how to ensure a significant increase in spending on acquiring air defense systems and long-range weapons - by raising taxes or debt, or in some other way. According to him, this year all allies are expected to achieve defense spending equal to two percent of GDP.
NATO's efforts are not aimed at continuing the war in Ukraine, but at ensuring that the country has the ability to defend itself. We fully support US President Donald Trump's efforts to achieve a lasting and just peace. Washington's decision last year to give Ukrainians an irreversible path to joining NATO remains in force, Ukraine has never been promised that this would be part of the peace agreement or the ceasefire agreement, Rutte specified.
We are united that Ukraine must stand its ground, he said, confirming that the Ukrainian side has been invited to the alliance's summit later this month in The Hague, without specifying who will represent Kiev and whether it will participate in all meetings.