STORY: NATO defence ministers gathered in Brussels on Wednesday (October 15) for talks to discuss support for Ukraine and defending its border after multiple drone incursions across Europe.

"The session will focus on how to make our deterrence and defence even stronger,'' NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.

Ministers are expected to discuss an initiative for arming Ukraine, the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), which has been developed by the U.S. and allies to supply Ukraine with new weapons and those from U.S. stocks using funds from NATO countries.

Rutte before the meeting with defence ministers said that the military alliance and the European Union were working together in their efforts to set up a drone wall to protect member countries from drone incursions.

Asked if they were doubling efforts, Rutte said the EU and NATO had different roles, with NATO providing capabilities on the military side and the EU holding the soft power of the internal market and making sure the money is there

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: NATO DEFENCE MINISTERS GATHERING IN MEETING ROOM

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 15, 2025) (NATO – Access all)

1. NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE AND U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, PETE HEGSETH ENTERING MEETING ROOM AND GREETING OFFICIALS / RUTTE AND HEGSETH GREETING FRENCH DEFENCE MINISTER, CATHERINE VAUTRIN (END OF LINE)

2. MEETING ROOM

3. RUTTE AND HEGSETH GREETING NATO DEFENCE MINISTERS

4. RUTTE AND HEGSETH TALKING

5. RUTTE BANGING GAVEL TO ANNOUNCE START OF MEETING

6. MEETING ROOM

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"This session will focus on how we will make our deterrence and defence even stronger, building, of course, on the historic decisions taken at the summit in The Hague to massively increase defence spending and defence production."

8. MEETING ROOM