NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, has urged continued support for Ukraine as the year 2025 draws to a close and warned that Europe will face increasing security risks if it shows signs of hesitation, reports dpa.
To prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from attempting an attack on a NATO member state, Ukraine must remain strong, Rutte said in a recent interview given to dpa, quoted by Agerpres.
He also emphasized the need for NATO members to increase their defense spending, in accordance with commitments agreed at the alliance’s summit in The Hague in June.
“If we do these two things, we are strong enough to defend ourselves, and Putin will never try”, Rutte explained, referring to a potential Russian attack on the alliance.
The former Dutch prime minister stated that rearmament must happen quickly. Depending on the assessments of intelligence services, the security situation could become dangerous as early as 2027, he insisted.
Russia’s military spending is proof of the threat posed by Putin, the NATO Secretary General also stated, adding that currently, Moscow allocates over 40% of its state budget to defense.
Rutte also appreciated that the war in Ukraine has demonstrated Putin’s willingness to accept heavy losses, citing estimates that approximately 1.1 million Russian soldiers have been killed or injured.