US Asks Ukraine to Mobilise Soldiers, NATO Wants to ‘Change Trajectory of Conflict Once and for All’

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday (December 4) NATO allies must provide enough support to Ukraine to “change the trajectory” in the war.Speaking at a press conference after a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, Rutte said the alliance’s members were working to deliver on their pledges to Ukraine and said a new command in Wiesbaden, which will coordinate Western military aid for Ukraine, would be fully operational by the end of this year.Rutte also sharply criticised arms companies, saying they were producing too little, charging too much and delivering too slowly as NATO seeks to support Ukraine and boost its defences against Russia.With NATO countries bracing for renewed pressure from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to raise their defence spending, Rutte also said the current target of 2% of economic output would not be enough to deter attacks in the future.Countries across the transatlantic military alliance have increased defence spending substantially in recent years, especially following Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.NATO estimates 23 of its 32 members will meet its goal of spending 2% of GDP on defence this year – up from only three countries who met the target when it was set in 2014. n18oc_world n18oc_crux