London, Mar. 2, (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the Ukraine defence summit was “very good” because European countries are “stepping up.”

Speaking to reporters, he said: “It was a very good meeting because what you see is European countries stepping up, first of all to make sure that Ukraine has got what it needs to stay in the fight as long as it has to continue.”

He went on: “What we also see is European countries really ramping up to help with security guarantees for the moment when a peace deal would be struck. Obviously, there is no deal yet, there is no ceasefire yet, but we have to prepare for that moment and making sure that European countries are willing to help out with the security guarantees.

“And here I really saw quite a number of countries, at this table, of course the initiative being taken by the United Kingdom and France, but others wanting to help, I think that’s important.

“And thirdly, on defence spending, also today at the table, I heard new announcements, and I’m not going to announce them to you, because they should do this, but this was very good news that more European countries will ramp up defence spending. Of course, the UK announced this … but I believe that other countries will follow.”

GNA