Pre-ministerial press conference

Thank you and good morning,

NATO Defence Ministers are meeting in Brussels to lay the ground for the Summit in The Hague,
and also take key decisions to enhance our deterrence and defence.
We will also address our continued support for Ukraine, and the urgent need for peace.

The world is becoming more dangerous.
There’s Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine.
The threat of terrorism.
And intense global competition.

We will continue to protect our people and our way of life.
So we must make NATO a stronger, fairer and more lethal Alliance.

At this Ministerial, we are going to take a huge leap forward.

We will strengthen our deterrence and defence by agreeing ambitious new capability targets.

These targets set out what forces and concrete capabilities the Allies need to provide to strengthen our deterrence and defence.
Air and missile defence, long-range weapons, logistics, large land manoeuvre formations are among our top priorities.

We need more resources, forces and capabilities so that we are prepared to face any threat, and to implement our collective defence plans in full.

To deliver on our new targets, it’s clear that we will need significantly higher defence spending.
That underpins everything.

European Allies and Canada have been stepping up.
And I expect that most – if not all Allies will reach the initial aim of spending 2% of GDP on defence this year. Many have invested – or have plans to invest – much, much more.

But we have to go further and we have to go faster.

So we will discuss the urgent need to increase defence spending.
For our core military requirements, and for defence-related investments, including infrastructure and resilience.

A new defence investment plan will be at the heart of the NATO Summit in The Hague.

An essential aspect of investing more is ensuring that there is supply to meet our increased demand. So we will work to increase defence production.
This is needed so that our militaries have the critical capabilities they need.
This is good for our security, and by the way also good for our economies.

Defence spending keeps us safe, but it also creates jobs across the Alliance.

We will also address NATO’s continued support for Ukraine and the need to bring an end to this terrible war.

Later today, NATO Allies, partners and Ukraine will take part in a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, chaired by Germany and the United Kingdom.
This will focus on continued support for Ukraine as it fights back against Russian aggression. And we fully support President Trump’s efforts to stop the bloodshed, with a just and lasting peace.

NATO’s long-term support to Ukraine is not about prolonging the war,
it is about ensuring Ukraine can defend itself now, and prevent any future aggression.

Allies will also meet in the NATO-Ukraine Council tomorrow with Minister Umerov and EU High Representative Kallas.
Minister Umerov will give an update on the battlefield, and offer Ukraine’s assessment on the search for peace.

We are at a pivotal moment for our security.
Make no mistake, NATO is strong today.
And we will become even stronger.

Strong defences send a clear message – no one should ever think of attacking us.

Finally, nuclear deterrence is the cornerstone of Alliance security. 
And tomorrow this Ministerial will conclude with a regular meeting of the Nuclear Planning Group.

The fundamental purpose of NATO’s nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression. 

And with that, I am ready to take your questions.

 

NATO Acting Spokesperson Allison Hart
We'll start with the gentleman in the fourth row with the glasses.

Sven Schulze, Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland
Thank you. Sven Schulze, Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, German newspaper network, RND. My first question is about the defence capability target. So how satisfied are you with the fulfillment of the current capability targets, and could the new higher targets act like, let's say the wake-up call for Allies have not fulfilled the current ones? And secondly –

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
Can I do this question by question? So first of all, first question, well, obviously there is still a lot to be done on the current capability targets. That's basically implicit in your question, and I couldn't agree more, and we need to do much, much more than what was basically encompassed in the current capability target. So that means that this week is so important because we will agree, and that means that we will assess the gaps we have in our collective defence to be able, not only today, to protect ourselves against any Russian aggression, the Chinese build up. Look what is happening between China, North Korea, Iran and Russia, etc, etc. But also to do this in the future that we are able to defend ourselves, not only now, today, but also in three to five years. Your second question.

Sven Schulze, Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland
Thank you. Regarding the peace negotiations with Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul after this negotiations, peace does not seem any closer today. So, with this in mind, are you convinced that peace is possible through negotiations with Putin, or is he just gambling?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
What I think is we really have to comment is the fact that President Trump broke the deadlock, because still, January this year, there were no direct conversations going  –ongoing between the US and Russia. And I think it was important that Trump did this. Of course, this is not easy, and we have to make sure that we bring Ukraine to a lasting and durable peace. This is exactly what the US wants, what all the Allies want, of course, what Ukraine wants. So Putin should never, ever try this again. And it mean, it means we have to test him. We have to sit down with him, or at least with his team, discuss etc. [inaudible] is the US taking the lead on this, and I'm really glad that they do that.

NATO Acting Spokesperson Allison Hart
All right. Second row, Agence France Presse.

Max Delaney, Agence France Presse
Secretary General, couple of related questions. You told President Zelenskyy in Vilnius that Ukraine is a priority at the NATO Summit, but it seems there will be no progress on Ukraine's desire to join the Alliance, and there will be no commitment from Allies like in Washington of a broader support package for Ukraine. So isn't the priority on Ukraine at The Hague Summit to avoid upsetting Donald Trump, and on –

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
On your first question, and then we come back to you, because all of us have to make notes. On your first question, the decision in Washington to present to the Ukrainians a irreversible path of Ukraine into NATO still stands today. There is no change. By the way, it was never promised to Ukraine that potential NATO membership will be part of a peace deal or a ceasefire, but that long term commitment, that irreversible path is there, and we are building the bridge through the Command in Wiesbaden, what we are doing together with Ukraine in Poland, capturing all the lessons, the ongoing support for Ukraine on a day-to-day basis. On your second question, the first three months of this year, this is not news. I mentioned this before. Allies have pledged 20 billion euros again for Ukraine in terms of military support, compared to the 50 billion last year, full year on the first three months of this year, again, 20 billion and more will come in. We will have the UDCG today, the Ukraine Defence Contact Group. And I'm absolutely confident and have reason to believe that more commitments will be made today. So that's ongoing. So there is no change there, because we are all united, including United States, Canada and all European Allies that we have to make sure that Ukraine can sustain in the fight and that we can bring this terrible conflict, this – Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine to a durable and lasting end.

Max Delaney, Agence France Presse
[inaudible] you're all committed, but for the first time in since, since this format started, the US Defence Secretary is going to skip the Contact Group. What does that say about US commitment to Ukraine? And haven't they gone completely AWOL on supporting Ukraine?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
This is Pete Hegseth’s second visit to Brussels since he became Defence Secretary, Secretary of State for Defence of the United States, which happened in January. He will be here for the second time this year, participating in the meeting tomorrow, the US will be present today in the UDCG. The US is completely committed to NATO, complete –completely committed to our joint endeavors when it comes to Ukraine, there's no reason to doubt that. And whether someone is participating, yes or no in each meeting, let's not forget, these meetings take place most of the times in Europe, so it will not always be possible for US officials to participate in every meeting.

NATO Acting Spokesperson Allison Hart
All right, coming to this side of the room, fourth row, orange jacket.

Alexandra von Nahmen, DW
Thank you so much, Alexandra von Nahmen with DW, I was wondering about Ukraine's role at the NATO Summit, as we understand, Ukraine is invited, but there is, at the moment, at least, apparently, no meeting of NATO-Ukraine Council planned at the leader’s level. So, for you, personally, as Secretary General, how important it is for you, for President Zelenskyy to play a big role during this Summit, and also how important it is for you, condemnation of Russia and also the aid for Ukraine to be prominently featured in the Summit Communique.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
Indeed, we invited, I invited Ukraine to the Summit, we will as soon as possible, bring out the program with more details. When it comes to Ukraine, NATO, we will have, and this is very important today, with the Defence Ministers, the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, we will have a NATO-Ukraine Council tomorrow, and we will continue having these meetings and making sure that we coordinate to the max, and the Summit will play a role there, absolutely. Again, I invited Ukraine, and we will bring out the program in due course, you will see what happens. Yes.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson
All right, just in front of her in the white.

Roksolana Lisovska, Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine
Roksolana Lisovska, Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine, we are all are waiting for the NATO Summit. And could you please confirm whether it's –it is true that the NATO Summit Communique will be shortened and will not include words Ukraine and Russia? If yes, why? And what can we expect to see in this Communique?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
Well, of course, we are still working with Allies and through the North Atlantic Council on the Communique, I think this Summit really should concentrate on a few issues, really concentrate. One is a huge increase in defence spending to make sure that we can keep ourselves safe, not only now, but also in the future. Related to that, making sure that we really put –that our defence industries will put in extra production lines, extra shifts for that. They need to know that we are spending more. They need to know what the capability targets are, and the capability targets we will decide on tomorrow and on the spending, we will decide at the Summit. And that combination will make it better, easier for defence industries to take their necessary commercial decisions, not to increase prices, but to increase the production lines, to increase the shifts, so that our great and beautiful defence industries in the US, in Europe and Canada will produce much, much more. And of course, Ukraine will be discussed and on the agenda at the Summit. There's no doubt.

NATO Acting Spokesperson Allison Hart
All right, the gentleman in the gray jacket and glasses

Dmytro Shkurko, International News Agency of Ukraine
Dmytro Shkurko, international news agency of Ukraine. Thank you so much. Do you expect the ministers and later on the Summit, the Allies will make a contribution, fixed contribution, for assist in Ukraine like it was 40 million –billions of, a year or last year. Do you expect that will be fixed for next year and next years, let me say so. And the second question, if I may, do you expect Ukrainian side will inform you on the strikes, on the strategic aviation and on the blow up of the Kerch Bridge details and what kind of assessment NATO have it will influence the overall security situation. Thank you.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
On your first question, it's even better. We don't have to wait till the Summit, because, as we speak, over the first three months of this year, NATO Allies have again committed, pledged 20 billion to Ukraine. And again, this compares to the in total 50 billion, which was pledged last year, from which 60% came from the United States Allies, so Canada and the European Allies, 59, 60% so almost 60% of that 50 billion this, these first three months of this year, in total, already 20 billion pledged. And there will be, I'm absolutely convinced, much more. And today's Ukraine Defence Contact Group will be –it will be helpful, will be helpful here. So I think that is important. And when it comes, of course, to the events, events last Sunday, clearly, that's for Ukraine, and let's not forget that the capabilities they hit were the capabilities the Russians were using to attack innocent people going about their daily lives in Ukrainian cities and communities. And so I think we really should take note of that.

NATO Acting Spokesperson Allison Hart
Okay, fourth row centre.

Niels Goedegebuur, ANP
Yes, thank you, Mr. Secretary General. How unfortunate is it that the Dutch government has collapsed three weeks before the Summit? And how important it is, you think that Dutch parliament will allow to go the caretaker government to decide on the new investment plan? And just for the record, you're staying here, right? Or is duty calling?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
I'm staying here, and obviously I should not comment about Dutch politics. But I'm really, absolutely positively convinced that at the Summit with the 32, we will come to an agreement when it comes to this really big increase in defence spending, in defence industrial production, keeping the support for Ukraine going. I'm absolutely convinced.

NATO Acting Spokesperson Allison Hart
All right, and then coming to the second row here in the centre.

Anton Trigub, Ost-West-TV
Secretary General, I have rather two questions. The first one is about external politics, and the other one about internal politics. So about the external the United States plan to withdraw the troops from Europe. How would Russia and China and the other countries that are not so friendly to NATO evaluate that?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
I will do it question by question. You can then ask the second question. On the first question, there are no plans at the moment for the US to withdraw troops. What we do know is that one, the US is completely committed to NATO. They expect European and Canadian Allies to spend much more. Because why would they spend X percentage on defence and then the rest of the Alliance, a lower percentage? So we have to increase spending. First of all, because we have to reach all those capability targets and close the gaps we still have to make sure that we can also fight the Russians if they try to attack us in three to five years, but also to equalise with the United States. And I think that is only fair. And then we know that United States, of course, Europe, NATO, is extremely important. Because for a safe United States homeland, you need a safe Atlantic, you need a safe Arctic, and you need security in Europe. This is all three crucial for the United States. But at the same time, we know the United States also has to because they are so big and so powerful, have to concentrate on other theatres in the world, like the Middle East, and, of course, the Indo Pacific. So pivoting somewhat more to these areas is only logical, and what we have to make sure is that there will be no gaps in our capabilities, etc, etc. And I'm absolutely convinced that is exactly the way we will go ahead on this.

Anton Trigub, Ost-West-TV
Well, it was the ambassador of the United States to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, who announced this plans to withdraw. So I at the moment, I see a contradiction between your words and his words.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
No, because we speak every week, and I know exactly what he said, and what he said is exactly as I said: we have to pivot more towards other theatres, one, and we will make sure that there will be no capability gaps in Europe.

Anton Trigub, Ost-West-TV
And the second question internal, you said that the NATO plan to increase defence spending. And do you expect the European member states to cut their social spending, like health care, like pensions and unemployment payments, yes, stuff like that, in order to increase budget spending on defence issues?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
First of all, let's agree why it is necessary to spend so much more. That is because the Russian threat is there, is there for the long term. And the Russians, as we speak, are reconstituting themselves up in a rapid pace. I mentioned this number before. The fact that with having only a 2 trillion economy compared to a 50 trillion economy for NATO, 25 times bigger. They are producing four times more in terms of ammunition, than the whole of NATO is doing. They produce in three months, what the whole of NATO is producing in a year, whilst they are only 2 trillion compared to our 50 trillion, so 25 times smaller than NATO. So that means that we really have to ramp up our defence spending, munition priority number one, but also all the elements I mentioned, including command and control, manoeuvrable land formations, long-range missiles, air defence systems, etc, etc, to keep ourselves safe. Then, of course, if that means for countries in increased defence spending, you will come to the political question, where to get it from. And then it's up to the politicians and the national consensus how to do this. And there are generally three areas. You can increase taxation, you can increase the debt, or you can try to find savings elsewhere. But this is up to national politicians, not up to me. I only need to make sure that collectively we have what we need to prevent us from taking Russian language courses.

NATO Acting Spokesperson Allison Hart
All right and just next to him in the second row.

Sam Breazeale, Meduza 
Hi. Thank you, Secretary General. I'm Sam Breazeale from the independent Russian outlet Meduza. I have two questions about the Baltic region. NATO countries are already challenged today in the Baltic region with sabotage attacks regularly and Russia's shadow fleet, among other things. So first question, is NATO prepared for a potential Russian hardcore attack in the Baltic region?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
Well, first of all, we are always prepared for every eventuality. And Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin should know that if he would try, that our reaction will be devastating. And he knows. What we have to make sure of is that it is not only devastating today, but that it will be also be devastating and very effective in three, five, seven years from now. And that's why we have to spend more. When it comes to the Baltic region, but this is also true for the Black Sea and for other NATO areas, here is a constant threat of attacks on our critical undersea infrastructure. That's why we have set up in MARCOM, the Maritime Command in the UK, the specialised centre when it comes to our undersea critical infrastructure. That is why Baltic Sentry, which is an activity which was launched under the auspices of General Cavoli, our Supreme Allied Commander, starting on the fifth of January this year, in reaction to what happened when it came to the sea cables between Estonia and Finland. So we are reacting. We are making sure that we keep the Baltic region safe, all the other seas and airspace of NATO territory, and particularly also focusing on our critical undersea infrastructure.

Sam Breazeale, Meduza 
My second question is going to be about willingness of NATO to protect, for example, a small Baltic city like Narva, but you kind of addressed that. But I want to ask about the resources. Are the resources really there, is infrastructure there?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
I can assure you that we will defend every inch of NATO territory. That Article Five, an attack on them is an attack on all, is ironclad. And that if anyone, be it Putin or somebody else, would think it's not there, it is there, and they will face the consequences if they try anything.

NATO Acting Spokesperson Allison Hart
All right. Fourth row, gentlemen with the glasses.

Guldener Sonomut, NTV Turkey 
Good morning, Secretary General. Good morning from NTV, Turkey. I have two questions, but I'll ask one by one. I get the message. So would it be wrong to frame the discussion in The Hague about, on the one hand, involving European countries in increasing their defence expenditure to 5% and committed to Article Three versus a clear enduring, also commitment from the US that they are faithful to Article Five?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
On this issue, because this is raised many times. I also answered the question last Monday in Vilnius, and I'm so happy that you asked the question again. The United States is totally committed to NATO, completely committed to Article Five. Not only because for historical reasons, not to repeat the mistake after the First World War when they retreated from the European continent. But also, for practical reasons, because to defend the US homeland, they need secure, a secure Atlantic, a secure Arctic and a secure Europe. And I told my European colleagues here when they ask me the same question, Mark, is the US still completely committed to NATO? I said, you might want to turn on your television once in a while and listen to President Trump when he meets with the French President, when he meets with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, when he meets with the Prime Minister of Italy. I had the honour to visit the American president in March. And in all those cases and many other instances, they have made totally clear their commitment to Article Five, their commitment to NATO, etc, etc. So maybe we should now start stopping asking the US to do this, and now we will ask for the next half year, for the Dutch or the Estonians to commit to Article Five in NATO, and then first half next year, we will move to Spain and France, and we will do this part of NATO by part of NATO, because it's not fair to constantly ask. And I'm not arguing with you, but through you with some of my European colleagues, to constantly question that. However, this comes with an expectation, and the expectation is that on the European side of NATO and the Canadian side of NATO, if we think that we can keep ourselves safe sticking with the 2%, forget it. Yes, the next three to five years, but then we are in great difficulty, and the US rightly expects us to spend much more to defend ourselves with their help, but also to equalise, which is only fair, with what the US is spending on defence.

Guldener Sonomut, NTV Turkey 
And the second question is with regard to war fighting readiness, it's a topic that you also raised in B9 and it's, I guess, the topic today. But is there enough resources and political will within the Alliance on that very matter, bearing in mind that these 1 billion citizens adopted the [inaudible] motto, we don't want words, but we want deeds.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
Yes, exactly. And that's exactly what we have. And NATO is the most powerful defence Alliance in world history. It's even more powerful than the Roman Empire, so and more powerful than Napoleon empire. We are the most powerful defence Alliance in world history. But the defence Alliance needs maintenance and needs investment. And that's exactly why in NATO we have this whole system, the NATO Defence Planning Process, now leading to an agreement on the capability targets. And that means that we will have exactly, exactly, exact clarity on where are we and where should we be if we want to be able to defend ourselves, not only today, but also in three, five, seven years. Listen to the German Chief of Defence who said this week on the record that within four or five years, the Russians might be able to attack us. Well, I and all my colleagues want to prevent that, because we want to stay free. We value our way of life, and we don't want any form of Russian dominance over NATO territory.

NATO Acting Spokesperson Allison Hart
All right, just in front of him. Reuters.

Andrew Gray, Reuters 
Andrew Gray from Reuters. Secretary General, you said that Ukraine is invited to the Summit at The Hague. When you say Ukraine, do you mean specifically President Zelenskyy? And is he invited to the Summit itself? Will there be a NATO-Ukraine Council or just to the dinner? And if that's the case, isn't that a diplomatic downgrade on previous Summits?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte 
As I said to your colleague, we will publish the programme in due course.

NATO Acting Spokesperson Allison Hart
All right, I think we have time for a couple more questions. The woman here in the front.

Xenia Polska, Deutsche Welle Ukrainian and Russian
I have a question on the spider web operation carried out by Ukrainian armed forces in Russia. So it's a couple of questions. So maybe yeah, we know the drill. Has the attack changed the perception of what Ukraine's and Russia's armies are capable of, and has it changed the balance of power in a way that could actually affect the negotiations?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
I think there's good reason for me not to comment on everything happening at the battlefield. You know, Ukraine has our full support. All Allies want Ukraine to be in the best possible position in the peace talks. We want to bring this conflict to a durable end, and when it comes to a specific operation, last Sunday, as I mentioned to one of your colleagues, clearly, what they targeted is Russia's capability to head out to target with missiles and other means, innocent Ukrainian civilians in cities, in communities all over Ukraine, and I clearly take note of that, but let me not comment on every step and then assess what that means for the standing and the war, etc, Because that's not always helpful.

Xenia Polska, Deutsche Welle Ukrainian and Russian
But you, you said you don't want to go into details. Still, I have to. Was Ukraine using intelligence of NATO Allies for that spider web operation.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
As I said on your previous question, it's tradition for us to not comment on every Ukrainian operation or every Russian operation. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't comment on it. And in this case, my comment is clearly on the targets of Ukrainian operation. And these are Russian capabilities they use to do this, indiscriminate, unprovoked attacks on innocent Ukrainian civilians, cities, etc. And that's terrible that they do this. And I take note of the fact that Ukraine was targeting those capabilities.

NATO Acting Spokesperson Allison Hart
All right. And final question to the gentleman just behind.

Serhiy Sydorenko, Pravda Ukraine
I'd like to ask you about your vision and Alliance vision on distribution of this, let's say 5% or what you would finally define. Ukraine is getting support. Ukrainian armed forces are getting support from the Alliance. Do you see that this support can be accounted as part of hard security expenses, or it's or it could be only a kind of defence related expenses, or it can be both, or it's still under discussion, and anyway, would Ukraine account for taking part in this high investment, which can amount up to 5% Thank you.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Well, first of all, it would be strange and not wise if, in NATO, we would take decisions on spending more and then doing it in such a way that it would somehow work against Ukraine, getting what it needs going forward to stay in the fight and be in the best possible position in the peace talks. So we will make sure that we will design the new investment plan in such a way that it will not impact the way our Allies are working with Ukraine to make sure that you have what you need to stay in the fight. All right, thank you all so much. We will see you back here tomorrow. Thank you.