**Ukraine to Spend 25% of GDP on Defense**
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Ukraine plans to spend about one quarter of its total income (GDP) on defense in 2025. This is a significant increase, more than ten times the average spending of European NATO members.
Rutte made these comments at a think tank in Brussels. He emphasized that freedom comes with a cost and that investing in defense now can prevent higher costs later.
**European Allies Increasing Defense Spending**
Many European NATO countries are increasing their defense spending due to growing security threats, especially from Russia. In 2023, defense spending across Europe and Canada rose by 11%. This year, 18 NATO members are expected to meet the target of spending 2% of their GDP on defense.
**Rutte Warns of Higher Costs**
The NATO chief warned that if countries do not invest in defense now, they will pay a higher price later. He compared this to the time of the Cold War, when European governments spent over 3% of their GDP on defense and were able to win the war.
**Increased Spending Means Trade-Offs**
Rutte acknowledged that increased defense budgets mean slightly reduced spending on other priorities. However, he emphasized that the trade-off is minimal.
**A Personal Appeal**
Drawing from his personal experience visiting Kharkiv after the war, Rutte appealed directly to European citizens to pressure their governments to increase defense budgets. He urged them to accept a small sacrifice today so that they can remain safe tomorrow.