{"id":1789704,"date":"2025-04-04T18:43:20","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T16:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pre.efe.com\/?p=1789704"},"modified":"2025-04-04T18:43:23","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T16:43:23","slug":"nato-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pre.efe.com\/en\/latest-news\/2025-04-04\/nato-defense\/","title":{"rendered":"NATO presses Russia to accept Ukraine ceasefire without delay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Brussels, April 4 (EFE).\u2013 NATO allies on Friday urged Russia to unconditionally accept a ceasefire in Ukraine, stressing that Moscow must respond promptly to a US-led diplomatic initiative to restart peace talks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cObviously, now the ball is in the Russian court. So we have to see what happens. But I do not want to interfere in those talks by having my comments from Brussels, to which they then have to react,\u201d NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told a press conference wrapping up two days of meetings of the alliance\u2019s foreign ministers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rutte praised Washington’s efforts to break the impasse in Ukraine and involve both European allies and Ukrainian officials. \u201cThey are directly affected, and it is their country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n(L-R) France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and German Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock arrive for talks on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 04 April 2025. EFE-EPA\/NICOLAS TUCAT \/ POOL<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
He reiterated that the United States, along with its allies, still views Russia as the greatest threat to the alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAbsolutely, and it was reconfirmed in Washington in 2024,\u201d he replied to the question of whether NATO, including the US, still stands united behind its 2022 assessment that Russia remains \u201cthe greatest threat\u201d to the alliance\u2019s security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Waiting for Moscow <\/strong>Several NATO ministers insisted that Moscow cannot indefinitely delay its response to the proposed ceasefire terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he expected to know \u201csoon enough\u201d whether Russia is genuinely interested in peace.<\/p>\n\n\n
\nNATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks at a press conference after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 04 April 2025. EFE-EPA\/OLIVIER HOSLET<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
“We will know\u2026in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace or not. I hope they are,” Rubio said at the end of the meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If this is dragging things out, President Trump’s not going to fall into the trap of endless negotiations about negotiations.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
French Foreign Minister Jean-No\u00ebl Barrot, speaking alongside his British counterpart, David Lammy, said Russia “owes an answer to the United States,” which has “worked very hard to come up with a mediation effort and a ceasefire proposal.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey need to answer. Yes or no. And they need to do it quickly,\u201d Barrot stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barrot accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of \u201cprocrastinating\u201d and avoiding peace talks. \u201cOur responsibility as Ukraine\u2019s allies is to increase the pressure on Putin to bring him to the negotiating table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga, who also attended the meeting, said Ukraine was not the obstacle to peace. \u201cThe ball is now in Russia\u2019s court.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said it was \u201cclear who wants peace and who wants war,\u201d calling for additional pressure on Russia to end its invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n
\nUkrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha attends a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting in Brussels, Belgium, 04 April 2025. EFE-EPA\/OLIVIER HOSLET<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Spanish Foreign Minister Jos\u00e9 Manuel Albares echoed that view. \u201cUkraine has demonstrated its willingness for peace,\u201d and now \u201cit\u2019s up to Russia to decide whether it wants peace or to continue its war of aggression.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRussia must say yes to the ceasefire on the table within a reasonable timeframe. We can\u2019t wait forever,\u201d Albares added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna criticized Putin for \u201casking for more and laying out new conditions\u201d instead of engaging in talks. \u201cThere have to be red lines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that Russia has not renounced its military goals. \u201cUnless we do our part in defense spending, we will be under threat ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Defense Spending Rises <\/strong>The ministers also discussed raising the alliance\u2019s collective defense spending target from 2 percent of GDP to a potential range of 3 percent\u20133.5 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rutte urged allies to keep tensions over US tariffs separate from defense coordination, though he acknowledged that economic constraints such as inflation and slow growth could impact contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rubio reiterated the US push for a 5 percent defense spending benchmark. \u201cI am not saying from today to tomorrow, but we believe NATO allies should move toward that target to meet the challenges ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said defense investments were trending upward across the alliance. \u201cWith a couple of exceptions, most countries are spending more today than they were three, four, or five years ago. The trend is positive. But it must continue.\u201d EFE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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