NATO chief says Canada and Europe 'stepping up' defense spending, US 'leading' on Ukraine peace скачать в хорошем качестве

NATO chief says Canada and Europe 'stepping up' defense spending, US 'leading' on Ukraine peace

(12 Feb 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Brussels - 12 February 2026 1. Wide of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arriving 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General: ++PART OVERLAID BY SHOT 1++ "Overall its a picture of Canada and Europe stepping up, spending billions more on defense, ramping up the defense industrial base, keeping Ukraine strong." ++WHITE FLASH++ 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General: "And the U.S. is leading the peace effort and there is only one country, the most powerful nation on earth, the U.S., which can do that under the leadership of President Trump, breaking the deadlock with Putin, getting the peace process going. So I really think the U.S. is doing exactly what we need when it comes to Ukraine." ++WHITE FLASH++ 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General: ++PART OVERLAID BY SHOT 5++ "They have always consistently pleaded for Europe to do more, Canada doing more, taking more care of the defense of NATO territory, of course in conjunction with the United States. And I predict that longer term you will see, of course, the nuclear umbrella as the ultimate guarantor of our security here in Europe and Canada. But also a strong conventional presence of the U.S. here in Europe." 5. Wide of Rutte leaving STORYLINE: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers Thursday that Europe and Canada would be "stepping up and spending billions more on defense." Rutte, speaking in Brussels, also praised the U.S. for "leading the peace effort" in Ukraine, adding that it is the only country powerful enough to do so. Rutte said that the U.S. is "putting every pressure on Russia," praising the leadership of U.S. President Donald Trump in "breaking the deadlock" with Russian President Vladimir Putin. His comments came a week after the U.S. and Russia agreed to reestablish high-level military dialogue for the first time in more than four years. He also said the alliance remains united and committed, despite previous threats from Trump levied at Greenland, a territory of NATO-ally Denmark. Rutte said a "strong, conventional" U.S. presence would remain in Europe, the Arctic and Atlantic. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...