Rome meeting

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned that while Europe is secure today, the continent may face serious security risks within the next three to five years if it does not significantly increase defence spending and production capacity.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Rome following the Weimar+ foreign ministers’ meeting, Rutte said that European nations must act urgently to address shortfalls in military readiness.

“We are safe now,” Rutte stated. “We are not safe three to five years from now, so we have to spend more.” He cited assessments by the German Chief of Defence suggesting that Russia could be prepared by 2029 or 2030 to test NATO’s collective defence commitment under Article 5.

Rutte also underscored the need to scale up Europe’s defence industrial base, saying: “We need more shifts, more production lines.” He pointed to the mismatch between defence requirements and current output, noting that existing facilities across Europe and North America are not operating at the speed or capacity required to meet strategic demands.

The Weimar+ format meeting, hosted at Villa Madama in Rome, gathered senior representatives from NATO and EU member states to discuss Ukraine and European security in light of ongoing Russian aggression. The joint statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting reiterated participants’ commitment to supporting Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia.

European foreign ministers pledged to expand sanctions targeting the Russian energy and banking sectors and to strengthen efforts to prevent their circumvention. The statement also outlined intentions to deepen defence industrial cooperation with Ukraine and to explore further security initiatives, though without detailing specific mechanisms.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, also present at the meeting, reinforced the message of urgency. Echoing earlier remarks by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he stated that Russian losses in Ukraine had surpassed one million but had not delivered any strategic gains for Moscow. “Only pressure can force Russia to peace and neutralise the Russian threat to Ukraine and the rest of the world,” he said.

Sybiha also recalled that nearly 100 days had passed since Ukraine accepted a US proposal for an unconditional ceasefire, a plan that Russia has so far declined. “Diplomacy and appeasement do not work on Russia,” he warned, calling instead for what he termed “pressure diplomacy”.

Do Not Appease Evil: Ukrainian Public Figures Appeal to World Leaders

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasised the bloc’s growing commitment to defence, highlighting the €800 billion Rearm programme. She noted that while Russia remains a threat, its behaviour is predictable, and that the Kremlin only responds to demonstrations of strength.

“Russia is bleeding cash, but we need to cut the flow of cash to Moscow’s army even further,” she said, referring to the EU’s 18th sanctions package. Kallas also stressed that European unity and enhanced defence capabilities are central to deterring further aggression.

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski took aim at Russia’s diplomatic posture, saying: “Putin’s regime is feigning diplomacy while escalating its demands and launching barbarous attacks on civilians. These are classic Muscovite tactics and tricks.” He argued for firm commitments from European states to increase defence and security spending, both to support Ukraine and to strengthen NATO’s European pillar.

Sikorski also said the continued Russian strikes against Ukraine demonstrate that “Vladimir Putin is mocking the peace efforts of President Donald Trump”, and reiterated Poland’s support for additional economic sanctions. He expressed concern over Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”, which he described as posing environmental and security risks in the Baltic Sea.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani offered a more cautious view, stating that his country would need at least a decade to meet the updated NATO spending targets. NATO is currently in the process of agreeing a new collective defence spending goal, reportedly comprising 3.5% of GDP for general defence and an additional 1.5% for military support to Ukraine. Rutte acknowledged that while the target had been communicated, there was no agreed timeline for compliance, a matter to be finalised at the NATO summit later this month in The Hague.

Looking ahead, the upcoming G7 summit in Alberta, Canada (15–17 June), is expected to focus on aligning US and EU sanctions on Russia and maintaining existing levels of military assistance to Ukraine. A senior German official noted that while a formal declaration on Ukraine was not anticipated, sustaining current aid levels would be considered a satisfactory outcome.

Meanwhile, Denmark’s parliament voted to approve a controversial defence agreement with the United States, allowing US troops expanded access to Danish military bases and granting American forces legal jurisdiction over their own personnel while on Danish soil. The move was approved despite criticism from some Danish MPs and legal experts who expressed concerns over sovereignty and constitutional implications.

As NATO leaders prepare to meet in The Hague, Secretary General Rutte’s warning underscores a shift in focus from short-term responses to long-term preparedness. With Russia continuing its campaign in Ukraine and maintaining hostile posture towards the West, the message from Rome was unambiguous: European security in the coming years will depend on urgent investment, industrial mobilisation, and unity.