"Germany is Ukraine's strongest supporter," says Rutte
Germany plays a leading role in strengthening NATO's defense and remains one of Ukraine's key allies in terms of military support. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made this statement during a joint appearance with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Berlin.
Referring to Wadepful’s recent visit to Kharkiv, Rutte noted that the German minister had seen firsthand the determination of Ukrainians to defend their country.
“NATO continues to provide support to help them defend themselves against Russian aggression. And Germany is Ukraine’s strongest supporter. Thank you for your leadership,” said the Alliance’s Secretary General.
Mark Rutte specifically highlighted Germany’s contribution to strengthening security on NATO’s eastern flank.
In particular, Berlin is helping to strengthen the region’s defense by deploying a forward-deployed brigade in Lithuania. Additionally, Germany plans to increase its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2029.
According to Rutte, this is an important contribution to the Alliance’s overall ability to deter potential threats and defend member states.
The NATO Secretary General also condemned Russia’s hybrid provocations, particularly the incident at Leipzig Airport.
He emphasized that Moscow’s attempts to intimidate Alliance countries or force them to stop supporting Ukraine will not succeed.
“Russia wants to divide us. But we are united. Russia wants to stop our assistance to Ukraine. But we intend to do even more for Ukraine,” Rutte emphasized.
Thus, the NATO chief underscored that the allies intend not only to maintain their support for Ukraine but also to continue strengthening it in the face of Russian aggression, while simultaneously bolstering the Alliance’s own defense capabilities.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made this statement during a joint appearance with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadepful in Berlin.
Germany recently sent another shipment of aid to Ukraine to support and restore its energy infrastructure. The necessary equipment was sent to meet the needs of the Cherkasy and Chernihiv regions, as well as Kyiv.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated in Berlin that he sees no signs that the Russian Federation—the aggressor state—is ready for serious negotiations to end the war against Ukraine. He expressed this assessment during a briefing with European Council President António Costa, despite a new diplomatic initiative by the United States.
Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, will moderate a panel discussion at the executive level at the 17th Middle East Banking Innovation Summit (MEBIS 2026), which will take place on September 16–17 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai.
