NATO should identify Russia as biggest security threat at US summit — Baerbock

Baerbock said this during a speech in the Bundestag on the next NATO summit, Ukrinform reports.

"Next week in Washington, we must make it clear: Putin's Russia will remain the greatest threat to our security and freedom in Europe for the foreseeable future. We did not choose this! We did not want this. But the time has come, and we must adapt our policies to reflect that," Baerbock said.

Baerbock called the support for Ukraine "an investment in our own security and freedom" and added that she is "very annoyed" when this support is referred to as charity.

"This is an investment in our own security, in our own freedom," Baerbock said.

The head of German diplomacy emphasized that Russian leader Vladimir Putin's imperial claims are directed not only against Ukraine but also against other countries.

In addition, Burbock said that as the NATO summit approaches, there is an intense discussion about strengthening assistance to Ukraine.

"After all, Putin's planned bombs are not only attacking Ukrainian power plants and homes every day - they are also attacking our way of life and freedom in Europe every day. His bombs are aimed at us, too," Baerbock said.

The German minister also noted that by trying to divide and weaken NATO, Putin has achieved the exact opposite.

The 75th summit of the North Atlantic Alliance is scheduled to take place on July 9-11 in the US capital of Washington, DC.

• Earlier, on April 27, former NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller said that Ukraine's accession to the Alliance would be considered at the July NATO summit in Washington.
• On June 19, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that the United States expects over twenty more countries to sign bilateral security agreements with Ukraine before the next NATO summit.
• On June 23, British Radio Liberty correspondent Oles Kovach reported that the UK is initiating a series of talks with the US and Germany ahead of the NATO summit in Washington to persuade them to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance.
• The New York Times reported that NATO will announce the launch of a mission to help Ukraine at the US summit.