NATO chief emphasizes prioritizing Ukraine in EU arms procurement
Photo: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Getty Images)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged the EU not to limit itself to the "buy European" principle and to prioritize Ukraine's needs over procurement rules for weapons, according to Mark Rutte’s statement at a meeting of the European Parliament’s Defense Committee.
According to Rutte, the EU must ensure maximum flexibility in the use of funds allocated to support the Ukrainian army and avoid being constrained by political procurement rules.
The NATO Secretary General emphasized that the €90 billion loan package would have a profound impact on Ukraine’s security, but he strongly urged ensuring flexibility in how these funds could be spent and warned against being overly restrictive due to the EU and its "buy Ukrainian" or "buy European" principles.
He stressed that he understands Europe’s desire to develop its own defense industry and acknowledged it as a vital direction.
"But it cannot, at the moment, provide nearly enough of what Ukraine needs to defend itself today and to deter tomorrow. So as you take this loan forward, please, I encourage you to keep Ukraine's needs first in focus," Rutte stated.
The NATO chief clarified that procuring weapons in Europe or Ukraine should remain a priority if such an option is available.
"But we all know that without this flow of weaponry from the US, we cannot keep Ukraine in the fight. Literally: no, not," he said.
As an example, Rutte cited American air defense systems, which play a key role in protecting Ukrainian cities.
He noted that the United States was currently providing the necessary interceptors to shoot down as many missiles as possible each night targeting Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other cities.
In conclusion, the NATO Secretary General emphasized the close coordination between the Alliance and the European Union in supporting Ukraine.
Mark Rutte summarized that NATO and the EU were now working side by side, both in Brussels and Kyiv, to assist Ukraine, and that the coordination of military aid, training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and development of the defense industry all complemented each other, emphasizing the need to continue this work.
The Pentagon has presented the new 2026 US National Defense Strategy, which focuses primarily on domestic security, while support for allies in Europe will be more limited.
As for the EU, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Europe still does not know how to effectively defend itself.
Zelenskyy is confident that NATO, without the United States, would not be able to protect even its own members.
