The need for increased defence spending by each of the NATO member states was re-emphasised today by the Alliance’s Secretary General, Mark Rutte, stressing that a new target needs to be set for the level of such spending to be well above 3% of the GDP of each member country.

Speaking from Bratislava, where he is visiting, the NATO Secretary General also stressed that strong security guarantees will be needed to achieve a lasting peace for Ukraine.

“It is vital that any agreement brings a lasting peace, that Russia never again tries to take a single square kilometer of Ukrainian land,” he told reporters.

“This will require strong (…) security guarantees and NATO allies are actively discussing what that might entail. While there is much still to be decided, there is no doubt that Europe has a vital role to play in securing peace in Ukraine,” the Alliance Secretary General added.

He said that Ukraine should continue to arm itself so that it can come to the negotiating table from a position of strength.