NATO sets stage for Ukraine membership, commits to stronger defence
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized in Vilnius that Ukraine is irreversibly moving towards membership in the Alliance. He added that this is not part of peace negotiations with Russia.
- When it comes to Ukraine, a clear commitment was made in Washington by all 32 allied countries on an irreversible path for Ukraine to join NATO - said Mark Rutte, who is participating in the Bucharest Nine and Nordic countries summit in Vilnius, dedicated to defence spending and support for Ukraine.
- There was no deadline, there was no such thing as it being understood as part of a peace settlement, but it was obviously a long-term commitment of all 32 allies - highlighted the NATO chief.
Support for Ukraine. Assurances were made
Rutte assured that Ukraine will receive all necessary support to "continue the fight and be able to bring this terrible Russian war of aggression against Ukraine to an end."
The NATO chief stressed that during the summit in The Hague from June 24-26, members of the Alliance will need to commit to increasing defence spending. He did not specify what percentage of GDP NATO countries should allocate for defence, but emphasized that the level 2 percent of GDP, which NATO agreed to in 2014, is definitely too little and it will be significantly more than 2 percent.
- Russia has teamed up with China, North Korea and Iran. They are expanding their militaries and their capabilities. They are preparing for long-term confrontation ... We are the strongest defensive Alliance in world history. And we have to make sure by the decisions we make in The Hague for the long term, the next 25 years, we will stay the strongest defensive Alliance in world history - he emphasized.
The Baltic agency BNS reminds that so far, plans to allocate 5 per cent of GDP or more to defence have been declared by Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia as well as Poland.
