Obama says NATO defence spending needs upward trajectory


U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi following their meeting at Villa Madama in Rome March 27, 2014. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

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.

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