Quotes
As we soon approach the anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, we see today a revitalised and refocused NATO."
Canadian Lt Gen Peter Scott, the deputy commander of NATO's Joint Force Command in Naples, said
This is what we’ve been training for."
Italian Lt GenLorenzo D’Addario, speaking after a 90-minute military demonstration, added
I’m not the one that declares a red line or not. I work with the president, as we work through these issues, but we believed that it was useful just to speak some reality into the conversation. Ultimately, President Trump is the only one who’s gonna determine if there’s wiggle room or movement on any particular position."
Quote from Hegseth
That’s not a definitive value statement,
Hegseth pointed outI think what I articulated yesterday, in consultation with senior leadership in the White House and the Oval Office of the president, was the reality of the moment — that NATO membership was unlikely considering the realities of where we are. No one’s throwing a stake in the ground for 25 years from now or any defined period of time,
he saidThere is no replacement for hard power,
he said, after warning that
Our partners must do far more for Europe's defence. We must make NATO great again, ... President Trump
Hegseth told reporters after the talks in Brussels, warningUltimately, we have our own budgetary considerations to be had,
he saidIt is clear that any deal behind our backs will not work,
she told journalists at the meeting
I’m not going to stand at this podium and declare what President Trump will do or won’t do, what will be in or what will be out, what concessions will be made or what concessions are not made,
he saidIn his conversations with Vladimir Putin and [Ukrainian president Volodymyr] Zelenskyy, what he decides to allow or not allow, is at the purview of President Trump,
he said
It's a crucial moment of truth,
Lecornu told reporters ahead of a NATO meeting in Brussels
Two percent of GDP is not enough. Three and four and ultimately, as President Trump has said, five percent of defense spending is critical,
Hegseth saidEither we are within the parameters of a discussion that will genuinely bring peace through strength, or, on the contrary, it will be peace through weakness,
he said addingThe United States faces consequential threats to our homeland. We must — and we are — focusing on security of our own borders,
he said
To say that it’s the biggest and most robust alliance in history is true, historically speaking. But the real question is will that still be the case in 10 or 15 years,
he saidThe new security secretary should simply start by coming to Ukraine and getting acquainted with the Ukrainian Armed Forces,
Merezhko said