NATO Chief Rutte: Alliance Must "Needs to Go Further" in Supporting Ukraine

The Alliance ‘needs to go further’ to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion, new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said during a visit to Greece and accused Moscow of dangerously escalating the conflict by sending thousands of North Korean troops, AP reported.

‘By waging an illegal war in Ukraine, Russia is using North Korean weapons and troops, Iranian drones and Chinese dual-use goods for its defence industry,’ Rutte said. 

‘This is a dangerous expansion of war and a challenge to global peace and security.’

Current NATO Secretary General and former Dutch Prime Minister Rutte, who took over as NATO's chief last month, met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens and thanked him for Greece's support to Ukraine, which includes weapons and ammunition, as well as training for F-16 pilots and technicians.

‘Our support for Ukraine has kept them in the fight, but we need to go further to change the trajectory of the conflict,’ Rutte said.

Greece currently spends more than 3% of its gross domestic product on defence. This figure exceeds the 2% minimum for NATO members. Greece is also seeking to change the European Union's budgetary rules to increase military spending by member states. Greece is also seeking to help create a common European air defence system.