Secretary General praises Slovenia’s contributions to NATO and its support to Ukraine

On Monday (14 September 2026), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Prime Minister Janez Janša of Slovenia at NATO Headquarters. The Secretary General thanked the Prime Minister for Slovenia's contributions to NATO, its role in the Western Balkans, and for its steadfast support for Ukraine.

"Slovenia contributes to our Forward Land Forces in Latvia and Slovakia," Mr Rutte said. "Slovenia also continues to play a very important role in supporting stability across the Western Balkans. A region of strategic importance to the Alliance. You contribute personnel to our peacekeeping KFOR mission in Kosovo, helping to maintain a safe and secure environment for all communities." The Secretary General also pointed to "over 60 million euros in security assistance provided by Slovenia to Ukraine in 2025" and the country's contributions to NATO's PURL initiative, to the Czech Ammunition Initiative, and to NATO's Security Assistance and Training Command in support of Ukraine.

On Russia's war against Ukraine, the Secretary General was clear: "Russia is struggling in Ukraine and continues to lash out, with reckless and dangerous attacks, including on civilian infrastructure, close to NATO territory. The strike on a passenger train in Ukraine yesterday shows how desperate Putin has become. He thinks that he can stop us from supporting Ukraine. And that he can undermine our unity. He is wrong. Our answer is to increase support to Ukraine, so it has what it needs to defend itself." Mr Rutte stated that NATO's commitment to collective defence is ironclad. "We will always do what is necessary to protect every inch of Allied territory," said Mr Rutte.