NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned that any attack on the Alliance would be met with a “devastating” response, as he described Russia’s campaign against Ukraine as an attempt to break the country through sustained strikes on civilian infrastructure.
Speaking at a pre-ministerial press conference at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Rutte said he had recently visited Kyiv and witnessed the effects of what he called Russia’s “relentless attacks”, including bombardment of critical national infrastructure. “Once again, President Putin is trying to break the people of Ukraine, hoping to weaken their resolve,” Rutte said, adding that Russia’s strikes were aimed at undermining basic services and civilian life.
He said Ukraine’s ability to endure continued attacks had been repeatedly demonstrated, but warned the country could not sustain the conflict alone, stressing that NATO allies and partners remained the source of almost all military support being delivered to Kyiv. “Ninety-nine percent of all military support to Ukraine has come from NATO allies and partners,” he said.
Rutte said NATO’s support continued through multiple mechanisms, including coordination through its command in Wiesbaden, training and lessons learned efforts, and political consultation through the NATO-Ukraine Council. He also highlighted the ongoing role of the “PURL” initiative, which provides US equipment funded by allies and partners. “This funding provided by allies to support deliveries through PURL saves lives in Ukraine every single day,” he said.
Rutte said the war in Ukraine remained central to NATO’s security outlook and warned that the Alliance must ensure it retains the ability to respond decisively to any future threat. He said NATO’s deterrence posture was designed to prevent conflict, but insisted the consequences for any aggressor would be severe. “If anyone tries to attack this defensive alliance… our reaction will be lethal,” he said.
He added that NATO’s response would be devastating and said the Alliance must ensure it remains capable of such a reaction in the years ahead. “Because our reaction will be devastating, what we need to do is make sure that in a couple of years, we can still react in a devastating way,” he said.
Rutte was speaking ahead of a meeting of NATO defence ministers, where allies are expected to discuss progress on defence spending increases and industrial capacity. He pointed to the Alliance’s commitment to increase spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035 and said ministers would examine how to accelerate production of air defence systems, ammunition and supply chains.
He also confirmed the launch of NATO’s new Arctic Sentry enhanced vigilance activity, intended to bring together allied activity in the High North under a single operational framework, warning that Russia and China were becoming increasingly active in the region.
And to be fair NATO, with the US, does have the capacity and numbers to defeat any Russian attacks/advance etc, but this would depend on political will to comply with article 5 AND any covert pre-attack grey zone attacks on European defence infrastructure and IT/defence systems by the Russians.
NATO, without the USA, could do it. The European and Canadian wings of NATO outnumber Russia in most categories.
Yeah…..
Something tells me Turkey, Hungary, Spain, Belgium and maybe some others wouldn’t lift a finger against a Russian attack in Eastern Europe
That’s the big question ?
I think folk need to remember the Orange Oaf is coffin dodging. He has caused more damage to alliances than any Potus ever. If, just if, the US was kicked out of its basing in Europe? It loses far more than it gains. And fact? Putin is gaining yards, not miles and at a great cost. The Russians could not operate on that scale Europe wide.
Not to sat we collectively need to spend more on defence, defence of the Baltics is a priority.
Trump is the best thing ever t happen to European NATO. First person to actually call us out collectively on not meeting our obligations. Thankfully the European nations are now waking up and spending, at least a decade to late.
I wonder what would happen to Kaliningrad in this situation.
The Finns, Swedes and Norway could get to St Pete in afew weeks alone. Its all by the by, there wont be any war, not with the chance of going nuclear either way.