Joint press conference

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(As delivered)

President Duda, dear Andrzej, welcome back to Brussels. It's always great to see you. Poland has been a dedicated Ally for over 25 years, and in fact, next week will mark 26 years since Poland joined NATO on the 12th of March, 1999. So, happy anniversary.

Poland makes significant contributions to Allied security. You lead by example when it comes to investing in defence, with 4.7% defence expenditure pledged for this year. You host one of NATO's Forward Land Forces, sending a strong signal of our readiness to deter and defend. You also contribute to the NATO multinational presence in Latvia and Romania. And later this month, Poland will contribute to NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission. On land, at sea and in the air, Poland has demonstrated firm commitment to playing its part in our great Alliance. And your NATO Allies stand with you. You also play a vital role in supporting our partner and your neighbour, Ukraine. These are uncertain times, and I know some may have concerns about NATO's future. So let me be clear, the Transatlantic relationship and the Transatlantic partnership remains the bedrock of our Alliance. President Trump has made clear the commitment of the US and his commitment personally to NATO, and it has also made clear the expectation that we in Europe must do more in terms of defence spending – and here, again, Poland is leading the way.

We are already seeing movement in the right direction. Last year, defence investment rose by 20% for Europe and Canada. And Allies are actively working on what they might do more. In the last couple of weeks alone, Denmark and the United Kingdom have made major announcements. Germany, France and the Czech Republic took important steps that the Czech Republic announced yesterday. And I very much welcome these developments because our shared security is our collective responsibility. And as Allies work to increase their investment in defence, many are also working on how they can contribute to a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. We all want to see an end to Russia's aggression and a deal that ensures lasting peace for a sovereign Ukraine.

So again, thank you, Andrzej, for joining me today. Thank you for Poland's steadfast support to Ukraine and your invaluable contributions to NATO. Abd now the floor is yours.

- - - - - -

NATO Acting Spokesperson Allison Hart
We have time for a few questions. We'll start with Reuters.

Reuters
Andrew Gray from Reuters. A question to both of you. As you know, the United States in recent days has cut off military and intelligence support to Ukraine. How much effect is that having, if any, on NATO's support for Ukraine through NSATU and the logistics space in Poland? And more broadly, what does that say about the coherence and the future of NATO as an Alliance when the United States is working to weaken Ukraine on the battlefield and therefore strengthen Russia?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
First of all, let me clear, it is important that Ukraine is in a position of strength, particularly when the peace talks, in whatever form they will take place, when they start. So the support has to continue. And therefore I welcome very much that the United States and Ukraine, as we speak, are discussing how to go forward with this, and how to solve some of the difficulties there are, based on the letter, the tweet, and then a follow up letter from President Zelenskyy of Tuesday this week. So that is now ongoing. I'm cautiously optimistic that this will lead to good results. So it's better not to comment on what ifs, because it's my assumption, again, cautiously optimistic, that things can move forward in a positive sense.

Euronews
Hello, Dominika Cosic, Euronews. I have two questions. First to Secretary General, I wanted to ask you, because you already mentioned that Poland is playing a special role. And how can you, how can NATO use the fact that, especially in particular President Duda has good relationship with both President Trump and Zelenskyy. So do you have an idea how to use this opportunity? And my second question to President Duda, what do you think about the idea of sending Polish soldiers to Ukraine, even in peacekeeping mission, and if not, if you are not supporting this decision, why do you think that it is bad idea? Thank you very much.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Well, thank you for your question to me, and absolutely true that President Duda has been working closely with President Trump like I did when I was Prime Minister of the Netherlands and the President as President of the Republic since 2016, since 2016, early 2017, when President Trump started his first four years in the White House. And, and I think that's good that we have experienced leaders in Europe who can liaise easily with our colleagues on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, in this case, with President Trump, and President Duda visited recently Washington. I was on the phone myself with President Trump last week. We hope also to visit soon here from NATO. So we take this step by step, but it is important that we dialogue, that we have these intense consultations between friends within the Alliance. So I highly applaud it.