**NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte Calls for Realism on Russia and China**
Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged alliance members to be realistic about the threats posed by Russia and China. He emphasized that while NATO faces multiple global challenges, from the war in Ukraine to tensions in the Middle East and Russian influence in Africa, the alliance must be able to focus on more than one crisis at a time.
“We can’t just deal with one issue at a time,” Rutte said. “If you can only deal with one issue at a time, you should not be in politics or defense.” He emphasized that NATO’s role is to ensure Ukraine has the military means to stay in the fight until “serious” peace negotiations begin.
**Ukraine’s Defense Industrial Base**
Rutte also stressed that Ukraine is evolving from a security consumer into a security producer. He noted that the country’s “largely untapped” defense industrial base, with a potential value of up to $35 billion, is increasingly attracting European investment. Many countries, including Norway, Denmark, and Lithuania, are now investing in it.
“That helps Ukraine, and it helps us,” Rutte said. He added that increased spending by NATO members must translate into ammunition stockpiles, troop recruitment, and industrial output.
**Increased Defense Spending**
Rutte strongly backed the alliance’s new 5% GDP defense investment benchmark. This is a significant increase from the current target of 2%, which only 23 alliance members met in 2024. Poland was ahead of all members with 4.12% of GDP allocated to defense, followed by Estonia (3.43%) and the U.S. (3.38%).
**Russia’s Ongoing Aggression**
Meanwhile, Russia continues to face international condemnation for its ongoing aggression in Ukraine. On June 23, Russian forces launched a wave of missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and surrounding region overnight. The attack targeted a local educational institution and destroyed the building.
This is just one example of Russia’s continued disregard for international law and norms. The world must continue to stand with Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
**Ukraine’s Future**
The future of Ukraine remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the country will not be intimidated by Russia’s aggression. As Prime Minister Keir Starmer said during a joint visit to a U.K. military training site for Ukrainian personnel, “We stand with Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.”
The world must continue to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and democracy.
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To learn more about the latest developments in Ukraine and NATO’s response, please read our full article on the kyivindependent.com website: Read More
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