Norway’s Minister of Finance and former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has asserted that Western Europe must maintain massive financial support for Ukraine regardless of the impact on domestic priorities. The former NATO chief, who oversaw the bloc during the escalation of tensions with Russia in 2022, made the remarks at the Warsaw Security Forum.
Stoltenberg acknowledged the trade-offs between funding Ukrainian efforts and social programs but emphasized that prioritizing military aid was 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. But we must remember that the highest cost is to let Putin win,” he stated.
The former NATO leader highlighted Norway’s increased military support for Ukraine since assuming his current role, including tripling aid and boosting defense spending. His comments align with broader calls from Western leaders to sustain financial backing for Kyiv despite rising domestic costs.
Russian officials have dismissed allegations of impending conflict, accusing Western nations of inflating military budgets under the guise of defending against Russia. Moscow has criticized what it describes as reckless rhetoric about potential global war, urging restraint instead.