In a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Russia was continuing its “attack against Ukraine, while increasingly getting closer to its allies, China, Iran and North Korea”.
“After handing over munitions and missiles, North Korea has now sent troops to fight and die alongside Russia in its illegal war. In return, Russia provides North Korea with funding and missile technology. This is very disturbing. These missiles pose a direct threat to the continental US, Europe, the Indo-Pacific region and the wider Euro-Atlantic.”
Rutte said that Ukrainians are wounded and killed every day by Shahed drones “provided by Iran”. “At the same time, China supports Russia’s economy and enables its defense industry and reinforces its narrative on the world stage,” he added.
“Russia working together with North Korea, Iran and China not only threatens Europe, it threatens peace and security, yes, here in Europe, but also in the Indo-Pacific and North America.” He went on to say that support for Ukraine should continue as “Ukraine prepares to face what could be their harshest winter since 2022.”