Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned European NATO member states that they could face attacks from Russia if Moscow is not defeated in Ukraine. He urged these nations to heed American calls to agree on a new substantial spending goal for the alliance during the upcoming summit in The Hague.
This two-day meeting aims to send a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that NATO is united and determined to enhance its defenses and deter any aggression from Moscow, despite previous criticisms from former President Donald Trump regarding the military alliance.
During a defense sector event on the sidelines of the summit, Zelensky stated, “Russia intends to launch military operations on NATO territory, targeting your countries.”
These remarks follow the recent reports of at least 11 casualties in southeastern Ukraine due to Russian missile strikes.
He added, “There is no doubt that we must stop Putin now, especially in Ukraine. However, we must recognize that his ambitions extend beyond Ukraine. European nations need to increase their defense spending.”
Praise for Initiative
As he was en route to the summit in the Netherlands, Trump shared a screenshot of a message from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte congratulating him on his “decisive action in Iran.”
A meeting between Trump and Zelensky is anticipated during the summit.
Zelensky expressed his desire to discuss the procurement of significant quantities of arms, including Patriot missile defense systems, and enforcing sanctions on Moscow, along with other measures to apply pressure.
Rutte affirmed the necessity for cooperation among member states in the defense sector.
He stated, “NATO’s military superiority is facing fierce challenges from Russia, which is rapidly rearming itself with support from Chinese, Iranian, and North Korean technologies and weapons.”
He continued, “Only Europe and North America are capable of addressing the challenge posed by rearmament.”
The Kremlin has accused NATO of excessively bolstering its military capabilities, portraying Russia as the ‘villain’ to justify its significant increases in defense spending.
The final statement of the summit is expected to be brief, focusing on responding to Trump’s call for an increase in defense spending to five percent of GDP, a substantial rise from the current two percent target.
This adjustment is set to be achieved through increased investment in military spending and other security-related expenditures.