President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the participants of the plenary session of the Defense Industries Forum in the Netherlands, stated that there are no signs that would indicate the desire of Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war against Ukraine.
Putin thinks only about war – Zelensky
According to him, Russia is preparing for a potential attack on NATO countries, which requires an immediate increase in defense budgets from the alliance countries, as demanded by US President Donald Trump.
– Russia rejects all peace proposals, including those from the United States of America. Putin thinks only about war. This is a fact. Perhaps he links his political survival to his ability to continue killing. As long as he kills, he lives. And our intelligence confirms this. Russia is even planning new military operations on NATO territory, that is, in your countries, – Zelensky said.
He stressed that until the end of the war in Ukraine, NATO countries must seriously prepare to protect their own security. Zelensky emphasized the need to stop Putin on Ukrainian territory, because his ambitions are not limited to Ukraine.
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EU countries must increase defense spending
European countries must increase defense spending. We believe that 5% of GDP is the right level. A united Europe can create a defense potential that will destroy Russia's illusion that a war with Europe can bring it something. In order to destroy this illusion faster, we must deprive Russia of the opportunity to continue this war against Ukraine with impunity, the president added.
Zelensky also noted that it would be most effective to stop the aggressor where he is already experiencing difficulties at the front.
The President thanked all countries and leaders who decided to allocate part of their national defense spending to support Ukraine.
“If each European country allocates at least 0.25% of its GDP for this (and we are grateful to those countries that allocate more, like the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and such large commitments as Germany, this is quite reasonable), the chances for peace in Europe will increase,” Zelensky concluded.
Let us recall that on June 23 it became known that NATO member countries had reached an agreement to increase defense spending to 5% of the gross domestic product. This decision is also important for Ukraine: one of the points of the final declaration of the summit held in The Hague directly stated support for our state.
