Soldiers and civilians dear readers.

We live in extraordinarily challenging times. For nearly 18 months, Russia's renewed, unlawful invasion of Ukraine has brought indiscriminate violence and unbelievable suffering to our neighbours. Our thoughts and prayers are with the brave Ukrainian people, who withstand this aggression every single day, displaying a level of resilience second to none. We are ready to support Ukraine as long as it takes to withstand the Russian yoke. We are with the brave Ukrainians, soldiers, and families, whether they are on the front lines, in training, recovering from injuries or - displaced from their homeland by heavy fighting and relentless shelling. Most importantly, we stand with the families of those that have paid the ultimate price in the defence of freedom and independence for their country.

Russia's leaders have displayed a despicable contempt for human life - both towards Ukrainians and their own women and men in uniform. They have resorted to indiscriminate bombing and shelling, trying to compensate for their inability to beat the brave Ukrainian armed forces. Substituting operational art and tactical skill with terror is dishonourable to every true soldier. My contempt is for all those who order and carry out war and war crimes with dishonour and recklessness.

The Russian invasion has, once again, challenged our rules-based international order. The war and its second-order effects, millions of refugees, high inflation and energy prices as well as a food crisis that is hitting the already poor countries, are the most direct and immediate threats to our security and well-being. The ultimate challenges facing our planet, climate change and the unequal distribution of wealth across the globe, remain unchanged. Our immediate goal is that Ukraine will prevail. Our ultimate goal is to preserve this world of ours that is so worth living in, our idea of liberal, good governance, freedom in security and well-being, to pass this world on to our children and future generations in a liveable and sustainable way.

What does this mean specifically for us, as soldiers, as citizens, as mothers and fathers:

1. We must be ever more vigilant in our readiness and our preparedness for defence. Defence of NATO territory, defence of our way of life. Only when our readiness to defend and our ability to do so effectively are recognised by any potential adversary, deterrence can be achieved. This deterrent is our best chance to avoid war and to reassure our allies. If war comes nonetheless, it is our best chance to succeed in the fighting because we will defeat every opponent.
   No nation can do it alone, nor should it. NATO is about solidarity among its members, it is the strength we generate out of our ability to act as one, shoulder to shoulder. This is the hallmark and the unique selling point of NATO and the EU: To unify our respective capabilities towards a common goal, on the basis of a common, liberal set of values. We truly are "Stronger Together". This requires a clear commitment to a "NATO integrated and collective approach" - We Are NATO!
2. Communicating is everything in this regard. But communication must be focused on the outcome we want to achieve. This means we need to focus our engagement on what makes the difference! We must talk and act more with each other than about each other!
3. Readiness in peacetime, readiness of each of us, of our civil societies and our armed forces, are key guarantors for peace in security and freedom. Security cannot and should not be outsourced to armed forces, but instead requires a whole-of-society approach.
4. To make our world fit for the future, for the benefit of all, we need a changed mindset, a new understanding of what "MORE" actually means or should mean: It is no longer about demanding more to further the individual comfort zone, but about giving more to ensure that all of us have a future!

I thank our headquarters, our subordinated units, allies and partners and the great men and women as well as their families for their exemplary service, forward-leaning attitude and inspiring commitment to our common cause, to our mission! Together we will succeed - thank you!