☰

Empresas y finanzas

Obama says NATO defence spending needs upward trajectory


    ROME (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama urged NATO allies on Thursday to get their defence budgets on an upward trajectory with "everybody pitching in" as he wounded up a day of meetings with Vatican and Italian officials.

    At a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Obama welcomed an International Monetary Fund aid package for Ukraine, calling it a major step forward that should help stabilise Ukraine's economy as it prepares for elections in May.

    He urged the U.S. Congress to move quickly to approve assistance for Ukraine.

    Obama took note of the fragile nature of European economies, saying those capitals with budget surpluses should help lift demand in Europe as a way to boost the European economy overall.

    (Reporting By Steve Holland; editing by James Mackenzie)