Backing Ukraine Will Prevent Russian Attack on NATO, Rutte Says
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that continued and robust support for Ukraine is essential to preventing Russia from escalating beyond its current war and posing a direct threat to the Alliance.
The Gaze informs about it, citing Rutte’s interview with the German news agency dpa.
The NATO Secretary General said Europe’s security would deteriorate rapidly if political resolve weakened, arguing that a strong Ukraine is the most effective deterrent against aggression by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“If Ukraine remains strong and NATO allies meet their defence commitments, we will be capable of defending ourselves – and Putin will never test the Alliance,” Rutte said.
The NATO chief also urged member states to accelerate defence spending increases agreed at the Alliance’s summit in The Hague earlier this year, stressing that rearmament must happen swiftly. According to allied intelligence assessments, he noted, the security environment could become acutely dangerous as early as 2027 if preparedness lags.
Rutte pointed to Russia’s wartime economy as evidence of the growing threat, saying Moscow is now channeling more than 40% of its state budget into defence.
He added that the war in Ukraine has shown the Kremlin’s readiness to absorb massive losses, citing estimates that roughly 1.1 million Russian troops have been killed or wounded since the full-scale invasion began.
Recently, British intelligence stated that Russia has suffered persistently high casualty with more than 400,000 soldiers likely killed or wounded across 2024–2025 alone.
Rutte’s assessment aligns with warnings from other European military leaders, including Norway’s top general, who have argued that the outcome of the war in Ukraine will shape Europe’s long-term security order.
As The Gaze previously reported, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has also warned that Moscow could use a potential ceasefire in Ukraine to accelerate preparations for a possible attack on NATO.
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