NATO chief tells Putin ‘we are not going anywhere’

NATO foreign ministers have endorsed work on a path toward spending 5 percent of national GDP on defence and reaffirmed continued support for Ukraine.

Speaking after the meeting in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Allies face “real and lasting dangers” as Russia steps up missile and drone strikes on Ukraine and engages in “increasingly reckless behaviour” toward the Alliance, including airspace violations, cyberattacks and the deployment of intelligence ships near Allied infrastructure.

On defence spending, ministers discussed implementation of the commitment taken at The Hague Summit to reach 5 percent of GDP for defence on a “credible path”, according to Rutte. He said this should fund “core capabilities essential for our collective defence, including advanced systems for air defence” and stressed that contributions to Ukraine count toward the target because they “directly contribute to our own security”.

Rutte underlined that spending is not only about hitting a figure, saying ministers highlighted how higher budgets are already “translating into tangible enhancements, such as bolstering forces on the eastern flank and modernising equipment”. He linked this to wider efforts to address hybrid threats, including sabotage and cyber operations aimed at destabilising Allied societies.

Ukraine remained at the centre of the discussions. Rutte said all Allies want the fighting to stop and “strongly welcome President Trump’s continued efforts to bring about a just and lasting peace”, while stressing that support for Kyiv cannot slacken while negotiations are under way. “Ukraine’s security is closely linked to our own,” he said. “Our support must continue unabated to help Ukraine defend itself today and deter tomorrow. For their own sake, and for ours.”

During the NATO Ukraine Council session, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha briefed Allies on the situation on the ground and “Ukraine’s urgent requirements”, while EU High Representative Kaja Kallas underlined EU NATO coordination in supporting Ukrainian resilience.

Rutte highlighted the role of the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), the Alliance vehicle for coordinating and funding military aid. He said NATO is now delivering “essential, lethal and non-lethal U.S. capabilities, including desperately needed air defence, to help Ukraine hold the front line and protect its people”. According to the Secretary General, over two thirds of Allies have now committed to PURL, alongside partners Australia and New Zealand, with more than 4 billion dollars already pledged toward a 5 billion dollar annual goal. He urged capitals to “accelerate their pledges not just for this winter, but planning ahead also for 2026”.

Rutte argued that Moscow is misreading Allied resolve. “Putin believes he can outlast us, but we are not going anywhere. Today is yet another clear sign that he is wrong,” he said, adding that ministers also discussed measures against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet and other steps “to pose strategic dilemmas for the Kremlin”.

Looking ahead to the Ankara Summit, Rutte said the Alliance’s priorities are “investing in our security, strengthening our industry, and sustaining our support for Ukraine so it has the means to endure this tough winter and beyond”. He closed by restating NATO’s defensive posture while emphasising readiness: “NATO is a defensive Alliance. We will remain a defensive Alliance. But make no mistake, we are ready and willing to do what it takes to protect our one billion people and secure our territory.”