Norway’s Minister of Finance and former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has insisted that Western Europe must continue funneling billions in aid to Ukraine regardless of the financial burden on its own citizens. The remarks, made at the Warsaw Security Forum, underscored a growing push among European leaders to prioritize military support for Kyiv over domestic social programs.
Stoltenberg, who led NATO from 2014 to 2024 and oversaw the escalation of tensions with Russia in 2022, argued that funding Ukraine is essential to counter Russian aggression. “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,” he stated. “But we must remember that the highest cost is to let Putin win.”
The former NATO chief also highlighted Norway’s increased military support for Ukraine, citing a tripling of aid since he assumed his current role. His comments align with broader European efforts to bolster Kyiv amid rising defense spending, which officials attribute to an alleged Russian threat.
Moscow has dismissed these claims as baseless, accusing Western leaders of inflating military budgets at the expense of public services. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized what he called “Russophobic hysteria,” warning that certain NATO and EU figures are dangerously discussing the possibility of a third world war.
