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Well thank you Volodymyr, and let me say I am grateful for the warm welcome amidst the winter cold. It is always an honour to be with you here. And an inspiration, to stand alongside you to affirm NATO's continued support for Ukraine. For every one of the 1441 days since Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine has resisted. Ukraine has defended. Ukraine has stood strong. NATO stands with you in words and in deed.

Together, NATO and Ukraine ensure that your friends and partners know what kind of security assistance you need. Our command in Wiesbaden in Germany, NSATU, coordinates the supply of essential military equipment and training. This not only addresses immediate needs on the battlefield, but also has your future force in focus. So you can defend today but also deter tomorrow.

Indeed, as you mentioned, Volodymyr, the PURL initiative, Ukraine receives the crucial equipment that only the United States can provide, with funding from NATO Allies and partners. This equipment has been flowing steadily and continues to help you protect your cities and defend the front lines. Since we started PURL last summer, it has supplied around 75% of all missiles for Ukraine's Patriot batteries and 90% of the missiles used in other air defence systems.

I know, however, absolutely, you already mentioned it, that Ukraine needs much more. And we are urgently working to ensure that more is delivered as quickly as possible. Not only through PURL, but sourced from wherever supplies can be found. I continue to work with Allies, urging them to dig deep in their stockpiles, knowing how pressing is the need. We will have another meeting in the Ramstein format next week to address it, and it will also come up later today in my meetings with the Defence Minister.

We also continue to provide support through the CAP Trust Fund, which includes support for five military rehabilitation centres so Ukraine's brave defenders get the care they deserve.

Allies also continue to increase support for your defence industry. Absolutely important, you also mentioned it. In some cases, indeed through joint production, and in others through direct investment, that not only enhances your security, but also contributes to your economy. We are learning from each other; we all have much to gain.

We are also working together in our Joint Assessment, Training and Education Centre in Poland, through the NATO office here in Kyiv, and through the NATO Ukraine Council and so much more.

NATO stands with and supports Ukraine today and in the years to come, not only because we share common values, but because our security is interlinked. We all support your sovereignty, your security and your pursuit of peace. We all want to see the war come to a just and lasting end. And we are committed to ensuring you have what you need to defend today and secure an enduring peace for the future.

That commitment matters, because in order to get to peace, you need to know that it will hold, based on concrete commitments. Ukraine needs strong armed forces. We are working with you to ensure that they have what they need. Ukraine needs also solid security guarantees, binding commitments to come to Ukraine's aid if it is attacked again. And this is what the Coalition of the Willing brings, including the deployment of European forces and a crucial backstop. A crucial backstop by the United States.

Mr. President, dear Volodymyr, the people of Ukraine have lived through horrific tragedy and endured so many sleepless nights, including in the freezing cold as Russia has continued to strike at the very heart of your society. Basically what we have seen now, also last night, is what the Russians are still doing. 450 drones, over 50 missiles, basically seeking to cripple your energy infrastructure.

The men and women of your armed forces are serving with brave determination, and the people of this country, civilian and military, have shown themselves extraordinarily resilient. As you and your team pursue the incredibly hard work of negotiating an end to this terrible war and that you are faced with difficult choices, it is essential that you know, that your people know, that you can count on our continued support. Russia will know this too. The security and prosperity of Ukraine are not concerns only for Ukrainians, they are for all of us. In NATO, your friends and partners will stand firm alongside you. Slava Ukraini!

Question

My first question is for the Secretary General. As you know, Ukraine needs at least 15 billion within the PURL programme. But are you sure in stable financing of this program, if not all European countries, not all European leaders are ready to invest and buy American weapon. So according these conditions, can you guarantee that Ukraine will get this weapon, especially missiles for Patriots?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

On your first question, yes, I'm absolutely confident that the money will be there, because we all know it's crucial. We have now two-thirds of Allies participating in the PURL programme. And you're right. There is an issue of burden sharing. And at the moment, some Allies are doing a lot. A lot of Allies are doing something. A few are doing nothing. But most are now involved in PURL. But we need better burden sharing within NATO. That's what we are working on. We know that some countries like the Canadians, and the Norwegians, and the Germans, and the Dutch, and the Danes. But also the Danes, the Norwegians, with the Swedes together with the Baltic countries, they are doing quite a lot. We have other countries who are also doing relatively much like Slovenia or Belgium. But still more can be done overall, and we need that burden to be equally shared between Allies. Of course, the good news here is also that the European Union has decided on making available 90 billion for two years for Ukraine, 60 billion for military aid. So that will help, no doubt. And I'm seeing many countries, including Türkiye and Norway and Canada and Spain really digging deep into the stockpiles to see what they can still deliver from their stockpiles in terms of AIM-120s, AIM-9X, PACs for the Patriot systems, for the crucial air defence of Ukraine. It is really saddening to see what happened again last night. It's good that some of the missiles you were able to intercept, but not all. And of course, we wanted interception rate, which is already a bit higher than it was, to go up even further. It's really crucial.

Question

My question is to you, Mr. Secretary General. As you have experienced yourself today, NATO and West are falling to help Ukrainian people not to freeze because Russia's energy terror. What is NATO's concrete answer to Russia after today's attack? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Well, of course, the attack is indeed terrible, over 70 missiles and 450 drones. And I'm not sure it is the highest effort, but it is clearly there in the top three of attacks on Ukraine. Maybe it is even-

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Because of the number of the ballistic missiles.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Yeah, so it might even be the worst attack ever, but at least it is somewhere in the top two or top three, maybe number one. So that's terrible. And it is, as you said exactly, happening in the middle of winter. And it is minus 25 degrees here in Kyiv. And we know that the way some of the buildings have been constructed here, and the central heating, this has a huge impact on the ability for people to warm themselves. But of course, we have seen over the last couple of months also the big impact it has on water and on electricity. So generally, on people living their lives and being able to go about our lives. And this is not for military purposes. This is just creating chaos for innocent citizens, hitting civilian infrastructure. So of course, the war itself was crazy anyway — the attack by the Russians unprovoked — but this is not even a military thing. This is hitting innocent civilians. So, I take this extremely seriously. I think the President, Ukraine is absolutely ready to play ball, to come to a deal with the Russians — which has to be of course acceptable for all parts and particularly of course for Ukraine, no doubt. But of course, this makes you question whether the Russians are serious, and let's hope they are. And I know the American president is doing everything he can to bring this terrible war to an end with his team. And I commend them for that. He's the only one who's able to do that. But last night is really a bad signal

Question

(in Ukrainian on whether the Secretary General would call President Trump to inform him of Russia’s attacks overnight)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Yes, on your second question, I'm always discreet about all my talks with leaders within NATO, with the President of Ukraine, but I'm absolutely sure that the Americans will have noticed. They see what happens. They will hear this. They will take this also for what it is. And that is an attack again on innocent civilians, on civilian infrastructure, which I think is unacceptable. And this has nothing to do with winning a war, or fighting a war, which as I said in itself was unprovoked, starting on the 24th of February 2022. But this is creating chaos, and what I saw today in the Rada, speaking with people here in Ukraine and with the President, it only strengthens your resolve to keep on fighting. And to bring this war to a durable peace. You are still absolutely staunch. So, it doesn't work. It doesn't help. It makes it even more difficult for the Russians. So, there is no reason why they do this, other than them thinking that it somehow breaks the resolve of Ukraine, which it doesn't. So, ‘stop doing it’ is my message, obviously, to the Russians.

Question

Natalya Kushnir, ABC News. Actually, I have a question for both of you. You already briefly mentioned this about the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine. Today, Financial Times released a piece where they claim that there is already some kind of agreement on deployment this kind of troops, both European and American troops, after reaching the peace deal, so-called peace deal, in order they would protect Ukraine in case Russia violate this peace deal. So how can you comment this and how real is this claim? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Thank you so much. Yes, I saw the piece, and I cannot comment on everything which is being reported. But what I can say is this: I participated in the meeting in Paris, and the President was also there three weeks ago, and this was an important meeting. As you know, when it comes to the security guarantees, there are three layers. Layer one is the Ukrainian Armed Forces themselves. They will be the first line of defence, obviously, for Ukraine, if ever the Russians or anyone would attack Ukraine. And we all feel the obligation to make sure that Ukrainian Armed Forces are in the best possible position to protect themselves. Then the second layer is what the French and the Brits were brought together in this Coalition of The Willing, European and other nations involved in that Coalition of the Willing, NATO nations, but also NATO partners working together to see how we can make sure that Ukrainian Armed Forces are indeed the best they can be. But also making sure that we deliver the other support necessary post a peace deal or a long-term ceasefire. And then the US starting this summer said, ‘we want to get involved,’ a backstop, making sure that whatever is necessary is there, doing this together, making sure that collectively the Ukrainian Armed Forces, what Europe is doing, what the US is helping with, will make a package, present a package which is so strong that Russia will never try to attack again post a peace deal or a long-term ceasefire. That's the will and the intent we all have. I think the Paris meeting was very good. Obviously, this is a step-by-step approach, so these documents are being refined. We discuss them, we bring them back home, we discuss them at home, and then we come back together, and they get better and better. So, for me, it's difficult to comment on pieces in the media, which I totally respect, because this is the FT doing its work, and I totally respect that. But please understand that I will not comment on everything in the media, other than saying that generally, this is the intent - that the security guarantee will be so strong that for Russia to attack again will be a very bad decision. But first we need to get to a peace deal or a long-term ceasefire. And we all pray that we will get there as soon as possible. But therefore, we need Russia to play ball. And again, last night was not a good signal.