NATO’s new Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the need for increased support for Ukraine and condemned Russia’s use of North Korean troops and weapons, Iranian drones, and Chinese dual-use goods on a visit to Athens.

Summary

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called for greater support for Ukraine and condemned Russia for escalating the war by deploying North Korean troops, Iranian drones, and Chinese dual-use goods.

Speaking in Greece, Rutte praised Greek contributions, including weapons, ammunition, and F-16 pilot training, while urging NATO allies to boost defense investments.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted Greece’s high defense spending and pushed for EU budget rule changes to allow for increased military funding.

Rutte’s visit faced protests in Athens, with demonstrators opposing NATO’s role and calling for investments in public services instead.

    • Justin@lemmy.jlh.nameEnglish
      3·
      1 day ago

      I dont think the majority of the people at these protests want to see Ukraine annexed. In Sweden we have parties who protest NATO but also want Ukraine to get Crimea back. You even see it in Ukraine, where half of Ukrainians in 2024 want to negotiate an end to the war, but would never accept a deal that concedes Crimea, making the whole idea of negotiation with Russia insane. Most uninformed voters want to their cake and eat it too.

      • antiyknsEnglish
        1·
        19 hours ago

        Russia and Ukraine are both illegimate in my book. They are the result of the illegal Yeltsin coup after which the eastern block got nothing to eat for ten years. Only Gorbatchev’s CCCP have the democratic legitimacy.

        • Justin@lemmy.jlh.nameEnglish
          1·
          18 hours ago

          ?

          The USSR doesn’t exist. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, etc are all independent countries now.

          • antiyknsEnglish
            1·
            18 hours ago

            If you wanna talk the facto than Crimea is russian.

            Those country are independent because of an ultra-nationalist model that have been forced into the USSR by the western block.

            • Justin@lemmy.jlh.nameEnglish
              1·
              17 hours ago

              so the Russian propaganda line now is that anti-imperialism is ultra-nationalist now, got it.

              • antiyknsEnglish
                1·
                16 hours ago

                I’m literally saying russia is fascist, dumdum.

              • antiyknsEnglish
                1·
                16 hours ago

                You got me, I was a russian troll all along. I’m currently with borisov and davidoff shoving vodka and caviar into our butthole while shooting ak47.

                How idiotic can you be lmao

        • antiyknsEnglish
          1·
          19 hours ago

          Yeah damn ukrainian stupid enough to want to stop the meatgrinder.