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NATO member countries to substantially boost defense spending — statement

NATO member states have agreed to "further strengthen our individual and collective capacity to resist all forms of attack," the statement reads

BRUSSELS, March 24. /TASS/. Member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will substantially increase their defense spending, NATO said in a statement released on Thursday following a meeting in Brussels.

"The steps we are taking to ensure the security of our alliance and of the Euro-Atlantic area will require adequate resourcing," the statement said. "Allies are substantially increasing their defense expenditures."

NATO member states have agreed to "further strengthen our individual and collective capacity to resist all forms of attack," according to the statement. The states will submit additional plans to increase defense spending at a NATO meeting in Madrid in June.

The allies also said they were resolute in their determination to "aid the government and the people of Ukraine."

The NATO meeting in Madrid is expected to take place on June 29-30. Ukraine and Georgia were invited to attend.

NATO held an extraordinary summit in Brussels on Thursday. The alliance heard a speech by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky by a video link and discussed giving Ukraine more weapons.

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