Zakharova suggested that NATO give part of the pensions of ex-alliance officials for defense purposes

In NATO should withdraw a quarter of the pension of retired officials of the organization for defense. This was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday, December 12.

"It seems to me that NATO should set an example and withdraw a quarter of the pensions of its retired officials: [ex-alliance Secretary General Jens] Stoltenberg, [former NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander] Vershbow, [ex-alliance Secretary General Javier] Solana and all the others," she told TASS, commenting on NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's statement calling for a portion of pensions and social security benefits in Europe to be given to arms production.

Earlier in the day, Rutte called for directing part of pensions and social payments in the European Union to weapons production, specifying that the alliance's military spending should exceed 3% of gross domestic product (GDP).

Commenting on this, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov suggested that European NATO countries are ready to reduce social payments to citizens, including pensions, because they understand that US President-elect Donald Trump will demand increased defense spending and cut aid to Ukraine.

Earlier, on November 7, Rutte said that the alliance countries would spend more than 2% of GDP on defense, as Trump demanded. He noted that the U.S. leader was right in his previous presidential term, saying that NATO countries should spend more than 2 percent on defense.