First of all, Ukraine. Today marks 1000 days after the full Russian onslaught, unprovoked, full Russian onslaught on Ukraine. So today we will discuss how we can help Ukraine to prevail. That means more aid, more money, and we have to make available to them.

Particularly now that the North Koreans have come on board. And we know that China is helping Russia with the war effort. We know that Iran is supporting Russia with the war effort. And as we also know, Putin has to pay for this. For example, with missile technology going into North Korea, which then is a direct threat, poses a direct threat, not only to us, but also to South Korea, to Japan, and even to the US mainland. So we have to make sure that Putin will not get his way, that Ukraine will prevail in this fight. And today that will be on our agenda.

Secondly, very important, defence industrial production. We need simply to do more. We have to ramp up the defence industry. And luckily, NATO and the EU are working closely together to make sure that the defence industrial base, transatlantic, will be strengthened over the coming months. We really have to do this. To replenish our stockpiles, to make sure that we stand ready to oppose any adversary.

And third, money. Clearly the 2%, great that we have achieved it on the European side of NATO overall. But it is not enough. It is clearly not enough. So we have to also make sure that we spend more on defence, to make sure that the deterrence and defence is not only there today, but also for the longer term, to make sure that we can defend ourselves.

So thank you, and willing to take a few questions. And then I’m up to meet the Defence Ministers.

Question: [Inaudible] with nuclear weapons. Should Western long range weapons be used on targets in Russia? How worried are you about?

NATO Secretary General: Well, I always took the view that it is wise not to talk too much about what we are doing, yes or no. Clearly, NATO has said before, when allies deliver systems, weapon systems, to Ukraine, it is best not to put restrictions on them. There’s a general view, but then it’s up to the individual ally to decide what they do. What we see at the moment is the escalation of the war because of Russia getting North Korea involved. We have seen last weekend what happened with the attack on Ukraine, which was massive by scale. But I’m not going into whether individual allies should yes or no, or what they are doing. Is up to them to communicate if they want to do so. I would generally say, let’s not communicate too much and not make our adversaries more wise than is necessary.

Question: Mr. Secretary General, have you seen any sign that the presence of North Korean troops has changed China’s calculus in whether to help Russia? That this is also concerning Beijing?

NATO Secretary General: Well, you know, the horrifying fact is this, that four countries are working together. And what is exactly the sort of psychology between them, I cannot always assess, but they are working together. China is helping Russia by sanction circumvention, by delivering dual use goods. North Korea with troops and massive weapons supplies into Russia. And again, Russia is paying for this. The fact that they have to pay with missile technology is really a threat to all of us, because North Korea will become more effective in its deterrence. And then Iran. I mean, Russia is paying for Iran’s help with money, and that money is helping Iran’s proxies in the Middle East. Is making it easier for Iran to do what it is doing in the Middle East, but also beyond. So there is a global impact, and it means that the transatlantic, the Euro-Atlantic theatre, but also the Indo-Pacific, we get more and more connected, because what is happening here is now posing a threat to Japan, South Korea and the US.

Question: About Georgia, what are the chances for the country which has some bad trajectory, the sliding of democracy and NATO integration also?

NATO Secretary General: Of course, we encourage Georgia to go back on its path towards more integration into the Euro- Atlantic, including their ambitions to get close to the EU. But let’s for today, not talk too much about Georgia. There’s so many other things [inaudible].

Question: You mentioned Iran. Iran helped with Russia. So you said, also Iran they have to pay. Are you today going to prepare new section against Iran?

NATO Secretary General: Well, that’s not on the agenda today, but we will [inaudible] today, no doubt, discuss the fact that what Russia is doing, this full onslaught against Ukraine, unprovoked, again, unprovoked. Now 1000 days, and we have seen last weekend this massive airstrike against Ukraine, hitting the power grid. It’s not just Russia. It’s North Korea being involved. It’s China being involved. It’s Iran being involved. And the fact that they’re all working together, we have to realize that it means that we have to strategize what it means. And clearly this is something what the Defence Ministers will no doubt discuss today. Last question.

Question: 1000 days after the war in Ukraine [inaudible] as a former Prime Minister [inaudible] Netherlands and now as Secretary General of NATO. Do you believe that this war [inaudible] to other countries, especially they neighbours who is Member State of NATO and European Union?

NATO Secretary General: Again, in 2014 the Russians took Crimea, then the war started. The full Russian onslaught started at the end of February 2022, indeed, 1000 days ago. I cannot be more proud of what Ukraine has done to prevail, being four times smaller, having an economy which is only 25% of the size of the Russian economy. Having been able to prevail up to this moment, because we in the West and others around the globe were willing to provide what was necessary to Ukraine to prevail and to prevent Putin to win. And why is this so crucial, that Putin will not get his way? Because he will have an emboldened Russia on our border, which will have gained in land mass, have gained in military capability. And I’m absolutely convinced it will not stop there. It is then posing a direct threat to all of us in the West. And that is why we have to make sure, because our values at the stake, are at stake, but also our collective safety is at the stake, that we have to make sure that Ukraine prevails and that is number one on the agenda today. Particularly now with North Korea, getting involved, with this massive airstrike last weekend, and the 1000 days today. Thank you so much. Thank you so much.

“ΒΥΖΑΣ“

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