What is Nato, which countries are members and when might Ukraine join?
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Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte took over as Nato secretary general on 1 October 2024
Newly appointed Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte has restated the military alliance's support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russia.
Speaking at Nato headquarters, in Brussels, he said: "There can be no lasting security in Europe without a strong, independent Ukraine."
The former Dutch Prime Minister took up his post in October 2024, three months after the organisation celebrated its 75th anniversary at a special summit in Washington.
What is Nato and why was it set up?
Nato - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - was formed in 1949 by 12 countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Its founding treaty was signed in Washington DC, and leaders of Nato countries marked the anniversary on the first day of the Washington summit.
Nato was founded in Washington DC in April 1949
Nato's primary purpose, external was to block expansion in Europe by the Soviet Union - a group of communist republics which included Russia.
Members agree that if one of them is attacked, the others should help defend it., external
Nato does not have an army of its own, but member countries can take collective military action in response to crises.
The alliance supported the UN by intervening in the war in the former Yugoslavia between 1992 and 2004., external
It also co-ordinates military plans and carries out joint military exercises., external
Which countries are Nato members?
Nato has 32 members across Europe and North America, including the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey.
After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, many Eastern European countries joined: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Finland - which has a 1,340km (832 mile) land border with Russia - joined in April 2023. Sweden became a member in March 2024.
Both had applied to join in May 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, having been neutral for decades.
Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia also hope to join Nato.
Why is Ukraine not in Nato, and when could it join?
Russia has consistently opposed the idea of Ukraine joining Nato, fearing it would bring the alliance's forces too close to its borders.
However, in 2008, Nato said that Ukraine could eventually join, external the organisation.
After Russia's invasion in 2022, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for his country to be admitted as soon as possible.
Former Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg previously said it was "inevitable" that Ukraine would become a member, but not until its war with Russia ends.
Former Nato boss Jens Stoltenberg told President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine can join in "the long-term"
How are Nato countries helping Ukraine?
Nato said Russia's invasion of Ukraine posed the "most significant and direct threat to allies' security"., external
The body has not sent troops to Ukraine or enforced a no-fly zone over the country, for fear of being pulled into a direct conflict with Russia.
However, individual members have supplied arms and equipment.
In July 2024, the German research organisation the Kiel Institute, external said the US had allocated 50.4bn euros (£42.6bn) for military support to Ukraine since February 2022. European countries - Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and the UK - had allocated 32bn euros (£27bn) over the same period.
The US, UK, Germany and Turkey and others have provided anti-tank weapons, missile defence systems, artillery guns, tanks and military drones. The US, UK and France have also supplied long-range missiles.
Nato countries are supplying Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine
Since July 2023, the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group, external has been co-ordinating efforts to give Ukraine weapons and training to defend itself against Russia.
Nato wants to take over that role by creating a $100bn (£77.3bn) fund, external to support Ukraine over the next five years.
At the Nato Washington summit in July 2024, President Joe Biden said the US would partner with Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania to donate Patriot missile batteries and other systems to bolster Ukraine's air defences.
That followed Russian air attacks across Ukraine on 8 July which destroyed a children's hospital in Kyiv and killed 43 people across the country, according to officials.
Zelensky has spent months pleading with his Western allies for more weapons.
Earlier in 2024, supplies of US munitions dried up after a bill to give more military support to Ukraine was delayed for several months. European weapons makers were unable to fill the gap.
Zelensky thanked allies for the two F-16 jets but said many more were needed
In August, Ukraine received two US-made F16 fighter jets, the first of more than 60 pledged by Nato member states since Biden authorised their supply.
One of the initial pair was destroyed three weeks later in a Russian attack.
On 10 October, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged his "continued commitment and support" for Ukraine, as he held talks with Zelensky and the Nato secretary-general at Downing Street.
After the meeting, Mr Rutte told BBC News: "It is crucial for Ukraine to prevail," adding the situation "is not only a problem for Ukraine but also a threat to all of us".
Zelensky wants Western allies to let his forces use donated weapons to target military logistic targets deep inside Russia.
Asked whether he would support such a development, Mr Rutte said Ukraine could legally hit targets in Russia threatening its safety but the decision was not up to him.
"That is up to the individual allies, to decide how weapons they deliver into Ukraine can be used," he said.
The UK government is thought to be considering lifting the current restrictions on weapons given to Ukraine - but the US and Germany have not given permission.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it clear he would consider such a move an escalation.
How is Nato increasing its defences against Russia?
In 2023, Nato commanders agreed detailed plans for countering possible Russian attacks anywhere in the Arctic and north Atlantic, central Europe, or the Mediterranean region.
It has increased the number of troops in Europe on high alert from 40,000 to more than 300,000.
The alliance has also bolstered its defences on Russia's borders with eight battlegroups., external
How much do Nato members spend on defence?
Nato asks every member country to spend at least 2% of its national income on defence, and 23 of them are projected to meet that target in 2024. Only three did in 2014.
The biggest spenders (in proportion to the size of their economies) are the US and countries close to Russia, such as Poland and the Baltic Republics.
Nato's European members and Canada collectively increased their defence spending by an estimated 9% in 2023 and are forecast to raise it by another 18% in 2024., external
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak previously committed the UK to increasing its military budget to 2.5% of national income from the current 2.3%.
Ahead of the Washington summit, Sir Keir insisted the Labour government will honour that pledge.
However, the new armed forces minister, Luke Pollard, has not said when the target will be met.
When he was US President, Donald Trump pushed European Nato members to boost their defence spending.
During the current presidential election campaign, Trump - who is the Republican candidate - warned that if he was re-elected, he might encourage Russia to attack Nato countries which failed to spend enough.
At the time, Mr Stoltenberg said his suggestion "undermines all of our security".
Speaking before the Washington summit, Trump told supporters that Nato countries were now contributing "hundreds of billions of dollars" more because he had warned them: "No, I will not protect you from Russia" unless they paid more to the alliance.