According to a tweet posted by @clashreport, Bessent publicly questioned NATO member states while discussing the situation in Ukraine. He pointed out that when Ukrainian President Zelensky requested assistance with Patriot missile systems, European NATO member states had ample stockpiles but did not actively provide them. He specifically singled out Germany to question its stance and actions on providing aid.
French President Macron responded to earlier remarks by National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, who said she would cut financial aid to Ukraine if she came to power. Macron emphasized that France and EU member states support Ukraine out of consideration for their own security interests, and noted that the situation in Ukraine is directly related to European security and stability.
French President Macron made public remarks on the situation in Ukraine, stating that aiding Ukraine is not merely a matter of goodwill, but accords with Europe's own interests and concerns collective security. He stressed that surrender means weakness, and weakness will bring danger, adding that he firmly believes this is the best way to protect the French people.
According to @clashreport, on October 15, 2026 Beijing time, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk made a public statement to Ukrainian President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people after holding talks with European leaders in Brussels, clearly conveying the message of support: “You are not alone.”
NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said that NATO jets are operating over Estonia to protect its airspace. He noted that on September 1, Turkish jets took off from the Ämari Air Base near Tallinn and intercepted a drone that violated Estonian airspace.
Responding to a question on whether Russia would attack NATO member states, NATO Secretary General Rutte said that NATO currently believes Russia will not take such action and that no imminent threat to NATO territory has been observed. Rutte also stressed that if NATO detects any signs of a military buildup, it will respond accordingly.
NATO Secretary General Rutte (Rutte) publicly stated that he does not oppose European armies as such, but does not advocate building a European army in addition to each country's national army, arguing that this would be overly complex and that, for reasons of sovereignty and command and control, a European army would be impossible to realize.
On September 10, 2026, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (referred to as "Stoltenberg" in the text) said in a public speech in Berlin, Germany that if China takes military action against Taiwan or other areas of the first island chain, Xi Jinping will first call Russian President Putin, using Russia's power in Europe to constrain NATO. Stoltenberg emphasized that Indo‑Pacific and European security are increasingly interlinked, the United States feels its military resources are being stretched, and Europe must take on more conventional defence responsibilities. The remarks aim to warn the West of the risk of simultaneous pressure on the Indo‑Pacific and European fronts.
Speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels on September 14, 2026, Rutte said that the drone attack carried out by Russia on the Ukraine-Poland border near NATO territory showed Putin's desperation and would prompt NATO to increase its support for Kyiv.
The NATO Ankara Summit issued a six-point declaration, reaffirming NATO's collective defense commitment and announcing a new procurement plan worth approximately $50 billion to fulfill the pledge of increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP. The declaration also mentioned building NATO 3.0, supporting Ukraine, and addressing the broader security environment.
At a press conference after the NATO summit, Trump once again reiterated that Greenland should be administered by the United States, arguing that the defense security provided by Denmark is insufficient and that Greenland is surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships.
NATO Secretary General Rutte said during the Ankara summit that European allies and Canada currently invest in defense and security at a level reaching 4% of GDP, with a combined increase of $258 billion in 2025 and 2026.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Washington from June 23 to 25, meeting with US lawmakers and attending an Atlantic Council panel discussion.
The Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service assesses that as long as the war in Ukraine continues, the possibility of Russia launching a conventional war against NATO can be almost entirely ruled out.