NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in Brussels to discuss "the importance of a close and strategic partnership between NATO and the European Union" amid evolving threats and challenges, according to an announcement.
"Both agreed that in an increasingly dangerous world, this partnership is vital in order to champion and safeguard peace, freedom and prosperity," the announcement said.
It added that "Russia’s war of aggression on European soil is the single biggest threat to peace and security on the European continent."
Rutte and von der Leyen "both emphasised that the deployment of North Korean soldiers in support of Russia’s war of aggression represented a significant escalation of the war against Ukraine as well as a serious threat to European security and global peace," NATO said on its website.
Russia invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.
Tuesday is day 979 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, nato.int