PARIS, Nov 12, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - NATO chief Mark Rutte on Tuesday called on
Western countries to ramp up support for Ukraine in its fight against
Russia's invasion, saying Kyiv required more than just being kept "in the
fight".

"We must do more than just keep Ukraine in the fight," Rutte told reporters
ahead of talks in Paris with French leader Emmanuel Macron.

"We need to raise the cost for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his
enabling and authoritarian friends by providing Ukraine with the support it
needs to change the trajectory of the conflict.

"We will discuss the importance of keeping up support as Ukrainians prepare
to face what could be their harshest winter since 2022... We must recommit to
staying the course, for the long haul."

Rutte did not explicitly refer to the election Donald Trump's election as US
president, who some fear will move to scale down American support for
Ukraine.

But he added: "We must stand together -- Europe, North America and our global
partners... We have to keep our trans-atlantic alliance strong."

Rutte, meanwhile, expressed concern at the support Iran, North Korea and
China were giving Russia in its war against Ukraine.

"After delivering ammunition and ballistic missiles, North Korea has now sent
troops to fight and die alongside Russia in its illegal war," Rutte said.

Iran designed and supplied drones that attack Ukraine while "China backs
Russia's economy, enables its defence ministry and amplifies its narrative on
the world stage," he said.

"Russia, working together with North Korea, Iran and China, is not only
threatening Europe, it threatens peace and security. Yes, here in Europe, but
also in the Indo-Pacific and North America."