Rutte and Kristersson also say that not all Nato countries equally contribute to help fund Ukraine’s defence.
Rutte says the spending “is not evenly distributed within Nato,” with “a limited” group of countries leading the effort – Sweden, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark –. many others are “not spending enough when it comes to the support for Ukraine.”
Kristersson says Sweden is the third largest donor. it “it would be far better if more countries competed with our size of support.
“We need to be long term and firm in our support. So I really would like more countries. speak so extremely well about Ukraine to also put the money where the mouth is. ”
Brussels correspondent
Meanwhile, German chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for Ukraine to gain “associate membership” of the EU to aid the process of fully joining the bloc. bolster peace talks.
In a letter to EU leaders, Merz said associate membership – essentially participation. representation in EU institutions, but without voting rights – would be “a decisive step on Ukraine’s path to full membership”.
He also called for the EU “without delay” to open all six membership negotiating topics with Ukraine, known as clusters.
Under the German plan, Ukraine would attend EU summits. ministerial meetings, be represented in the European Commission, European Parliament and European court of justice, but unable to cast a vote.
“ It is obvious that we will not be able to complete the accession process [for Ukraine] shortly. given the countless hurdles as well as the political complexities of ratification processes in various member states. However, with a view to the peace process, we do not have time for further delays…
My proposal reflects Ukraine’s particular situation, a country at war. It will help facilitate the ongoing peace talks as part of a negotiated peace solution. This is essential not only for Ukraine’s but for the entire continent’s security.”
Under the proposals:
Ukraine would not immediately receive funds from the EU budget, but would gain access to programmes on a “step-by-step basis”.
Kyiv would align with EU foreign policy. be covered by the EU’s mutual assistance clause, article 42.7, to create a security guarantee.
In case of backsliding on rule of law or EU values, Ukraine would face a snapback mechanism restricting its rights.
Merz wants EU leaders to discuss his ideas at an upcoming EU summit. The next one. in June, will be the first attended by Hungary’s new prime minister, Péter Magyar, who has already signalled a new approach to Ukraine. His predecessor, Viktor Orbán, blocked the opening of accession talks with Ukraine.
In his letter Merz described EU enlargement as a “geopolitical necessity” but said the process takes too long. causes frustration for candidates and existing members.
Six western Balkan countries were told their future was in the EU back in 2003,. the process towards joining has been slow.
Merz wrote there should also be “innovative solutions” to accelerate EU enlargement with countries in the western Balkans, suggesting “privileged access” to the internal market. granting them observer status in the EU institutions.
EU enlargement lost momentum after the big bang expansion of 2004 and no country has joined since Croatia in 2013. But the process gained new urgency following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which triggered applications from Ukraine, Moldova. Georgia.
Meanwhile we’re getting an update from Latvia, with the drone alert now called off.
The Latvian army added its usual disclaimer that “as long as Russia’s aggression in Ukraine continues. a recurrence of such incidents, when a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle enters or approaches Latvia’s airspace, is possible.”
One drone was confirmed to have crossed into Latvia from Belarus. its current whereabouts were not known, a military spokesperson told broadcaster Latvian Television.
Interestingly. Nato’s Rutte hints at more US announcements on its plans to “rebalance” the alliance away from “overreliance” on the US in the coming days, with the expected changes to the Nato Force Model, a pool of forces available for a potential conflict.
It was first reported by Reuters yesterday. with the agency saying the US administration was preparing to shrink the pool of military capabilities that it would have available to assist the alliance’s European nations in a major crisis ( Europe Live, Wednesday ).
Asked about these changes by the Swedish public broadcast SVT, Rutte says:
“I have some insight on what might happen. It will also be discussed in other fora. It might also come up tomorrow.”
He (obviously) says he is “not worried” about the changes, though.
In his usual spiel about how “it’s right that we rebalance” the alliance, he says:
“ What will be announced later this week. next week by the US … is absolutely doable, and it is exactly why we had the process in place – starting last year and coming to conclusions in The Hague – when it comes to defence spending.”
He then adds that it’s just “a structured ‘business as normal’ process.”
Not sure that will reassure the (already concerned) allies in central and eastern Europe, though.
Rutte and Kristersson also say that not all Nato countries equally contribute to help fund Ukraine’s defence.
Rutte says the spending “is not evenly distributed within Nato,” with “a limited” group of countries leading the effort – Sweden, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark –. many others are “not spending enough when it comes to the support for Ukraine.”
Kristersson says Sweden is the third largest donor. it “it would be far better if more countries competed with our size of support.
“We need to be long term and firm in our support. So I really would like more countries. speak so extremely well about Ukraine to also put the money where the mouth is. ”
Sweden’s Kristersson jumps in to Ukraine’s defence, too.
“It’s my firm belief that the Ukrainians are very… I mean. they certainly don’t want their drones to end up on friendly territory, for obvious reasons.
Sometimes it’s a matter of jamming, sometimes it’s a matter of other disturbances,. obviously they do not want them to happen, because it could create damage, it could create fear, of course.
But I think you should also realise that there is Russian willingness to give the impression that other countries are kind of doing things that are not legitimate,. that’s why … we should really not be open for the Russian narrative on this, but … help the Ukrainians as much as we can to direct, to help them direct their attacks in the right directions.”
Rutte joins him to once again declare the various Russian theories about the three Baltic states allegedly allowing Ukraine to launch drones from their territory ( 11:22 ) as “totally ridiculous.”
Rutte gets asked about the latest drone incident in Latvia.
He largely repeats his talking point from yesterday. saying that if gets confirmed that it’s another stray drone from Ukraine, these drones “are there because of the full-scale Russian attack against Ukraine, Ukraine having to defend itself.”
He says that Nato is “always prepared for every eventuality,”. it has shown with its response to a stray drone over Estonia that it’s prepared for any scenario.
We next go to the Q&A,. Rutte gets exactly what he gets every single time when he appears at a press conference: a question on Trump.
The question focuses on his past comments that he had an agreement with Trump on “no surprise” announcements,. whether that arrangements is obviously looking somewhat shaky given the recent US announcement on troop withdrawals or delayed rotations affecting Germany and Poland.
As often, Rutte doesn’t really answer the question, deflects. talks about the work Europe is doing to increase its defence spending and military posture instead.
He argues that Europe’s overreliance on the US is “not healthy,”. Europeans need to “take more care of their own defence.”
When he eventually gets to the basic premise of the question, he says:
“The rotational forces involved in the announcements do not have an impact on Nato’s defence plans.”
He says the US’s decision to pivot away from Europe. towards Asia is only being done “step by step in a way where it will not, of course, lower the overall deterrence in defence of Nato.”
Rutte begins with general niceties about Sweden as the latest country to join the alliance, praising its contribution to Nato,. plans to increase defence spending.
He commends Sweden on its work to stop Russia’s shadow fleet.
He then delivers his usual warning, clearly aimed at Russia:
“Let there be no mistake: our ability and our resolve to defend every ally are absolute. Were anyone to be so foolish as to attack, the response would be devastating.”
I will bring you more lines from Esper. Rasmussen soon, but let’s go to Sweden now where the current Nato secretary-general, Mark Rutte, is speaking alongside the Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson ahead of a Nato ministerial later today.
Back to Prague. former US defence secretary Mark Esper sought to reassure the audience that Europe can still trust the US as a partner in Nato, despite recent confusion over the presence of US troops on the continent.
Speaking to former Danish PM and Nato secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, he said:
“ Yes, Europe can trust the United States. … The alliance has gone through these ups. downs in the past, and I think at the end of the day, if the consensus in Washington DC, from both Democrats and Republicans, most on both sides, is that Nato is critical to American security; it’s certainly critical to stability and security in Europe.
And when push comes to shove. if Russia were to invade, I’m confident that we would live up to our obligations. ”
But he said that Trump was “spot on” calling Europe out on defence spending. stressing this point has been repeatedly made by numerous US administrations.
Rasmussen partially agreed, saying that:
“ For too long Europe has been too dependent on cheap energy from Russia, cheap goods from China,. cheap security from the United States. That model doesn’t work any longer.”
Meanwhile, Russia has doubled down on its (repeatedly denied) suggestions that Latvia. other Baltic states could soon be used by Ukraine as a “launchpad” for attacks on Russia, raising fears about a potential escalation in the region.
In a lengthy statement on its Telegram channel, the Russian ministry of foreign affairs said – quoting its foreign intelligence serving, but without offering any evidence – its claims that the Ukrainian military is preparing to carry out strikes on Russia from the territories of Estonia, Latvia. Lithuania.
It criticised Latvia’s “naive” leaders for allegedly “consenting” to the operation – again, a claim repeatedly denied by Latvia’s top leadership, including both the president. the prime minister, and Ukraine ( Europe Live, Tuesday ).
As part of the message. the Russian MFA even named the five Latvian military bases it alleged were hosting the Ukrainian drones.
“Nato membership will not shield accomplices of terrorists from just retribution,” it said, repeating the threats first made in the UN security council meeting earlier this week, which prompted clear condemnation from the US. the EU.
Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte said yesterday that Russia’s claims were “totally ridiculous,. Russia knows it” ( Europe Live, Wednesday ).
Worth remembering that the (now repeated) drone incursions into Latvian airspace have caused some real political damage in the country. prompting a government crisis leading to the collapse of Evika Siliņa’s administration last week.
Meanwhile, Lithuania is still looking for a military drone that prompted a national air threat alert yesterday, with the country’s leaders led to bunkers. the general public told to take shelter.
The drone disappeared from the Lithuanian radars near Vilnius. with a major search operation now under way trying to figure out what happened to it.
The operation had to be paused last night because of darkness,. has resumed this morning, with the authorities now looking closer to the Lithuanian border with Belarus.
“Until the object is found, no one can say for sure,. all parameters recorded by radars [..] point to a drone,” Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Centre, said, quoted by LRT.
Further to the earlier air alert. Latvia has just confirmed “there is at least one unmanned aerial vehicle in Latvia’s airspace.”
There is still no detail on what sort of drone or whose drone it is.
We will surely hear more about it during the day.
Back in Prague. former Estonian president Kersti Kaljulaid offered a clear take on the question facing the EU as it is moving to consider whether Ukraine should be admitted as a member of the bloc.
“ I just wanted to say [it] should be about simplification. It’s very difficult to discuss [if] Ukraine [should] join European Union,. then we discuss how will its agriculture fit the common agricultural policy.
[But] this is not the question. Question is: Ukraine is a military power with huge military production capability. Whose hands must it be in? In Russian hands, [or] western hands? End of story. This is our question. This is our objective.
Have Ukrainians with us. because imagine they started, like in Soviet Union times, to build all these things for Russia, not for us.
And that gives you your answer. It’s very simple.”
Following Zelenskyy’s warnings yesterday. Ukraine is ramping up security measures in its regions bordering Belarus, AFP reported, after weeks of warning of a possible fresh attack from Russia’s chief regional ally.
Kyiv has sounded the alarm that Russia may use Belarus – a springboard for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine – to stage a new offensive from the north. including towards the capital.
AFP noted that Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said its units. the army were “carrying out a comprehensive set of enhanced security measures in the northern regions of our country”.
The measures – including stepped up checks. controls of individuals and properties – “will serve as an effective deterrent to any aggressive actions or operations by the enemy and its ally”, the SBU said in a statement.
Just a reminder that Russia. Belarus are also staging joint nuclear drills this week, involving thousands of troops, planes and strategic missile forces.
For what it’s worth. Poland’s defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said this morning Ukraine must be very precise when using drones to avoid Russia interfering with their flight path.
“ Ukraine must be more precise here. of course, to avoid giving rise to Russian provocations,” Kosiniak-Kamysz told a news conference in the Estonian capital Tallinn, Reuters reported.
“Our territories … should not be violated, they should not be threatened.”
Earlier this week. Ukraine apologised for individual cases when its drones attacking targets in Russia strayed into the Baltic airspace, blaming Moscow’s “electronic warfare.”
But Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte laid the blame squarely on Russia, saying bluntly yesterday ( Europe Live, Wednesday ):
“ If drones come from Ukraine. they are not there because Ukraine wanted to send a drone to Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia. They are there because of the reckless. illegal, full-scale attack of Russia, starting in 2022 after, of course, what they did in Crimea in 2014 against Ukraine.”
And just like that. Latvia’s army has just issued a possible drone alert over southeastern part of the country – for the third day in a row.
I will keep an eye on that as there are more questions than answers at this early stage. including the crucial one on where does the it come from and, well, whose is it as we have seen reports of stray Ukrainian drones crossing into the Baltic countries as a result of Russian jamming.
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