"Ukraine is now changing the dynamics on the battlefield. But they need our continued support, especially when it comes to air defense," NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said at a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, ahead of Tuesday and Wednesday's summit of the 32 NATO countries.
Allies and NATO partner countries must give Ukraine what the country needs, Rutte emphasizes.
One of the three main issues at the meeting is continued support for Ukraine. The country is expected to receive pledges of multi-year support.
In recent days, Ukraine, including Kyiv, has been subjected to very extensive Russian attacks and many civilians have been killed.
Putin is desperate, says Mark Rutte, adding that no one seems to know, not him anyway, what it would take to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to want to negotiate an end to the war.
Stubb: Good position for Ukraine
Putin seems willing to accept that 35,000 Russian soldiers are killed or wounded per month.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb says in an interview with the Financial Times that more and more people see that Ukraine has gained the upper hand in the war against Russia. NATO supports the Ukrainian attacks that are taking place further and further into Russia, with, among other things, Russian fuel shortages and growing public opinion against the war in Ukraine as a result.
We are in a pretty good position regarding Ukraine because everyone, including our American friends, sees that Ukraine has the upper hand.
It has changed strategic thinking even among those trying to broker peace, Stubb tells FT.
At last year's summit in The Hague, Canada and the European NATO countries committed to striving for the equivalent of five percent of GDP in their own defense budgets by 2035 - a significant increase since some barely reach two percent now.
Rutte: Trump helps
The goal was set after heavy pressure from Trump, and as an insight into Europe's limping defenses in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Rutte praises Trump for scolding and pressuring Europe and Canada.
It helps a lot that he's on our side about this.
Rutte says that the Europeans and Canada have already set a real pace.
Last year, European NATO countries and Canada increased their defense spending by 20 percent.
A stronger Europe in a stronger NATO is Rutte's midterm grade for Europe's and Canada's rearmament so far and in the future.
