WorldPosted at: Sep 30 2026 9:38PM


NATO chief Mark Rutte dismisses concerns of immediate Russian threat to alliance

Brussels, Sep 30 (UNI) NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has dismissed concerns over an immediate Russian threat to the alliance, saying Moscow's recent nuclear warning over Kaliningrad should not be taken seriously and accusing Russia of trying to divert attention from its difficulties in Ukraine.
Speaking at the Euronews Defence & Space Summit in Brussels on Wednesday, Rutte said NATO was prepared to respond to any threat to its territory.
"We have prepared for this, we have planned for this, and this is true for the whole of NATO," he said. "We will defend every inch of NATO territory. That threat is not there, and if anything happens, we are ready to counter it."
His comments followed reports that Russia had sent NATO a diplomatic note warning that any attempt to isolate the Kaliningrad region from the rest of Russia could trigger the use of its "entire arsenal", including nuclear weapons. Moscow described any such move as carrying a high risk of direct armed conflict.
Rutte declined to confirm the contents of the letter, saying it was for Russia to disclose them. He rejected the suggestion that the warning represented a concrete nuclear threat to the Baltic states.
"Everybody knows that he [Russian President Vladimir Putin] can never win against NATO. I don't take this seriously," Rutte said. "But of course, we have to reply and make clear that NATO is a defensive alliance."
NATO's written response to Moscow said none of its military exercises or activities posed a threat to Russian territory and called on Russia to end what the alliance described as its "unprovoked full-scale invasion" of Ukraine and its nuclear rhetoric.
"We are a defensive alliance. Stop the nuclear threat. This is absolutely not called for and not helpful," Rutte said. He also urged Moscow to end the war in Ukraine, which he described as an "unprovoked war of aggression".
The NATO chief said Russia was suffering heavy losses on the battlefield, estimating that about 43,000 Russian troops were being killed or seriously wounded each month. He said Ukraine was in a stronger position than it had been a year ago and that NATO allies would continue supplying military support.
Rutte urged the alliance to keep its calm and continue backing Kyiv while also increasing its own defence spending.
"If necessary, of course we will defend ourselves," he said. "But the most important thing is this is all happening because the war is not going well for him in Ukraine. He wants to divide us. He wants us to lose attention when it comes to Ukraine."
The Russian warning comes amid worsening tensions around the Baltic region, with European governments accusing Moscow of stepping up sabotage and other forms of hybrid activity. However, the Kremlin has denied waging any such campaign and rejected Western claims that it is preparing for a military confrontation with NATO.
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