European security directly depends on increased defense spending by NATO countries and maintaining Ukraine's maximum military capability, said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in his interview with Bild, APA reports.
According to Rutte, NATO must fulfill two key conditions to continue guaranteeing peace. These include increasing arms spending and production, and providing comprehensive support to Ukraine in its war against Russia. He emphasized that if Russia were to seize all of Ukraine, the consequences for the Alliance would be far more severe and would require significantly higher costs.
"We will ensure that Christmas remains safe. But for that, we must increase defense spending and make sure Ukraine remains as strong as possible. If Russia gains control over all of Ukraine, the consequences for NATO will be serious, and we will have to spend much more," Rutte said.
He also addressed the scale of Russian military losses. NATO estimates that Russia has suffered up to 1.1 million killed and wounded while gaining less than 1% of Ukrainian territory in a year.
"Putin is willing to sacrifice 1.1 million of his people for minimal territorial gains. It’s terrible, but it’s the reality we are dealing with," he said.
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