NATO chief Rutte says many allies not spending enough on Ukraine support

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Thursday that many alliance members are not contributing enough to Ukraine's defense, warning that aid "is not evenly distributed now within NATO" and calling for a more equitable burden-sharing.

Speaking in Helsingborg, Sweden, alongside Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Rutte named Sweden, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway as leading contributors. "There are also many not spending enough when it comes to the support for Ukraine," he said.

Rutte last week proposed that allies dedicate 0.25% of their GDP to Ukraine. He acknowledged the proposal "will not get unanimity, so it will not work," but said "it has at least started the debate between allies, that if we all are saying that Ukraine has to make sure that it stays in the fight as strong as possible, and bring this fight to a peace, then of course we all have to chip in an equal manner."

Kristersson said Sweden is the third largest donor to Ukraine. "We need to be long term and firm in our support. So I really would like more countries that speak so extremely well about Ukraine to also put the money where the mouth is," he said.

Rutte also addressed security concerns, saying any attack on a NATO ally would be met with a "devastating" response. He dismissed Russian claims about Baltic states allowing Ukraine to launch drones from their territory as "totally ridiculous." Kristersson warned against Russian disinformation regarding stray Ukrainian drones, saying "there is Russian willingness to give the impression that other countries are kind of doing things that are not legitimate."

Estonia summoned the top Russian diplomat in Tallinn to protest a "continued disinformation campaign" against the Baltic country. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said "a threat against one NATO ally is a threat against the whole alliance."

EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius accused Moscow of using intimidation tactics against Baltic nations, saying Russia "is becoming nervous and ... radicalises in its hybrid attacks against the Baltic states" as a response to the worsening situation on the frontline in Ukraine.

In a separate development, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for Ukraine to gain "associate membership" of the EU, proposing participation in EU institutions without voting rights as a step toward full membership.