Rutte: We are working with EU on European shield against fears

Asked whether efforts on this issue are being doubled, Rutte said the EU and NATO have different roles: NATO offers military capacity, while the EU has the soft potential of the internal market and ensures that funds are available.

The focus of the NATO defence ministers' meeting in Brussels is expected to be also to strengthen support for Ukraine. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also attends the meeting as US President Donald Trump examines the possibility of supplying Kiev with long-range missiles.

Appointment NATO comes after Moscow challenged NATO with a series of air spaces violations in Poland and Estonia, increasing fears that the conflict in Ukraine could expand.

There have also been detection of the fears near military buildings in other countries that have moved authorities to close the airports.

All these events have raised concerns that Russia is aiming to push NATO to react.

Defence ministers are also expected to focus on efforts to fill gaps in the eastern flank of the alliance, as NATO was forced to use expensive missiles to bring down Russian fears that entered Poland.

After the incidents, NATO launched a mission to strengthen its defence, but several countries close to Russia have called for a stronger response.

The Western military alliance is also aiming to speed up the development of anti-launched coalitions and to encourage in its defence the free technology Ukraine uses.

The EU will also hold a meeting with its defence ministers Wednesday evening. The bloc has proposed the creation of a <x0mur for fears” to confront threats.

Among European states, however, there is scepticism, as is Germany's case, for this proposal, and also fears that the European bloc can enter NATO's scope.

The fear initiative is one of the main projects the EU has focused on as part of a broader effort to prepare the bloc for a possible conflict with Moscow in the years ahead. The EU is expected to present to the ministers a roadmap for its plan, which hopes it will be approved during a summit of leaders to be held next week. /rel