**NATO Chief Calls for Increased Military Aid to Ukraine**
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged Western allies to send more military help to Ukraine. This is in an effort to change the course of the war.
The call comes as new US President Donald Trump takes office. He had previously promised to end Russia’s war with Ukraine quickly. Also, thousands of troops from North Korea have been sent to Russia to support their war efforts.
Rutte made his statement in Paris before meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. “We must do more than just keep Ukraine fighting,” he said. “We need to make it harder for Putin and his friends to continue the war.”
Rutte warned that Russia is not only a threat to Europe but also to other parts of the world, including North America and the Indo-Pacific region. He called on NATO countries to stand together against this threat.
Macron agreed with Rutte’s assessment. He said France will support Ukraine for as long as it takes to negotiate an end to the war. He also emphasized the importance of a “strong Europe” in responding to global threats, including what the US expects from its allies.
**Corruption Scandal in Ukraine**
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Security Service has arrested a senior energy official who allegedly demanded bribes for moving critical mining equipment from Donetsk to western Ukraine. This is another example of corruption in Ukraine, which is already facing a major war with Russia.