Rome: Foreign Ministers from the Weimar Plus alliance on Thursday reiterated their shared commitment to NATO unity and pledged continued unconditional support for Ukraine, while calling for a temporary ceasefire to open the door to peace negotiations.
According to Kuwait News Agency, at a press conference following the meeting held in Rome, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that the participants had adopted a final statement underscoring the importance of unity within NATO and across Europe. "This is the core message we want to send collective security and a vision for peace that stretches from Ukraine to the Atlantic," he said.
Tajani stressed that the group reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine and also jointly called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza along with the urgent release of all hostages. He reiterated Italy's and the European Union's commitment to a lasting political solution based on respect for international humanitarian law, adding that ministers had discussed the need to boost defense spending and strengthen Europe's defense industry.
"Italy agrees with the proposal to increase defense budgets but we ask for a flexible timeline and a phased approach," he explained, expressing confidence that an agreement could be reached ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague.
For his part, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that Russia could pose a serious military threat to the alliance by 2029 or 2030 citing assessments by Germany's top military leadership. He called on NATO countries to step up defense investments and accelerate arms production particularly ammunition.
Rutte revealed that NATO has proposed a new target for defense spending at 5 percent of GDP, divided into 3.5 percent for direct military use and 1.5 percent for broader security needs. He also highlighted a recent UK decision to build six new ammunition plants as a good example of how to respond to current shortages.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the EU's 800 billion euro defense rearmament initiative "a turning point in building a stronger and more unified European defense." She said the EU is preparing new measures to improve access to financing and streamline public procurement processes for defense contracts.
On the war in Ukraine, Kallas said Russia is carrying out its most intense attacks on civilians since the conflict began, adding that the EU has adopted a 14th sanctions package this week targeting Russian banks, the energy sector, and its arms industry. "Russia's economy is bleeding we need to keep tightening the flow of money to its military," she stressed.
Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul underlined the need for a solid European defense structure that works hand-in-hand with NATO, not in competition with it. "Security isn't only about weapons; it's also about crisis prevention, partnerships, stability, and reconstruction," he said. He welcomed Italy's upcoming Ukraine Reconstruction Conference scheduled for July in Italy, calling it a crucial opportunity to bring the international community together in support of Ukraine's recovery.