NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: Allies Promise Increased Aid to Ukraine After Helsingborg Meeting

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that during the Alliance's ministerial meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, he received «many encouraging comments» from allies regarding increased assistance to Ukraine. He made this statement at a press conference, as reported by «European Pravda».

Prior to the meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Rutte expressed concern that only 6-7 European states were actively procuring weapons from the US for Ukraine under the PURL program. After the session, journalists asked if this situation had changed. Rutte assured them that he had received a positive response from allies and pledged to monitor the implementation of these promises.

«I received many encouraging comments on this matter. Of course, now we need to see if they will fulfill their promises. And I will do everything to ensure they fulfill them. But I must say that this was perfectly clear to everyone present,» the NATO Secretary General emphasized.

Support for Ukraine is one of the key topics of discussion at the meeting of NATO countries' ministers in Sweden. Norway, in particular, is calling for increased contributions to Ukraine's defense capabilities. A meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council at the level of foreign ministers is also planned on the sidelines of the event, in the format of an informal dinner, which will be attended by Ukrainian Minister Andriy Sybiha. Earlier, on May 21, Sybiha discussed threats from Russia and Belarus with Secretary General Mark Rutte.