The president of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenskihe has reiterated his request that NATO leaders dedicate at least 0.25% of your gross domestic product to support kyiv in his fight against Russia, before the summit in which the allies committed themselves to Increase your budget in defenseand where the conflict has been relegated to the background.
“If all European countries commit to allocate at least the 0.25% of its GDP to support Ukraine”, Said Zelenski, “The possibilities of peace in Europe will increase”. The president is in The Hague to meet with some of the leaders on the margins of the summit, where The Russian invasion has been in the background before the escalation of violence in the Middle East, and the tensions for the increase in defense expenditure.
Zelenski has backed that objective of NATO to increase the military budget. “European countries need to increase defense spending. We believe that 5% of GDP is the right level,” said the president. A strong and united Europe is an indispensable part of the deterrence and defense policy against Russia. “The most important thing for us is the unity of NATO countries, all of Europe and the entire European Union,” said Zelenski. That unit is the basis of support for Ukraine.
INDUSTRY SUPPORT
Although Ukraine does not formally participate in the summit, Zelenski met on Tuesday with NATO general secretaryMark Rutte, and the presidents of the European Council and the Commission, Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen. At that meeting, The Ukrainian has claimed more investment in the Ukrainian defense industry through joint European purchases, and more help.
Ukraine, Zelenski said, has the capacity to produce drones, artillery … but needs financing. “All weapons that we produce reinforce the European defense and security system”said the president, who has opened to share knowledge and production with the countries that show his support for kyiv.
“Meanwhile, Russia not only uses your oil income for defensebut also the resources of regimes such as North Korea and Iran, and Russia’s corrupt connections with other countries, ”said the president. In this sense, Zelenski has also asked leaders to approve a new sanctions package against Russia.
On the one hand, to limit your ability to make war. On the other hand, to force the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to sit to seriously negotiate a peace agreement. Costa has committed to Maintain support to Ukraine and increase the pressure on Russia through sanctions. “We know that you are freeing a war that also protects our values and our principles,” said Von der Leyen.
Background
Although the final declaration of Leaders will foreseeably reiterate the support of the Alliance to Ukrainebut probably, it will not make references to the entrance of the country in NATO. The Secretary General, in any case, recalled last Monday The commitment of the allies that this process is “irreversible.”
Zelenski participates on Tuesday in A gala dinner organized by the Dutch royal family where the faces will be seen with the leaders. In addition, predictably It will also meet bilaterally with the president of the United States, Donald Trump, this Wednesday, on the banks of the summit. It will be the first time that both have a formal meeting since Trump humiliated Zelenski at the White House last February.
