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Mark Rutte, who has recently taken on the role of Secretary-General of NATO, stated that he does not anticipate an immediate threat regarding the use of nuclear weapons by Russia, even in light of the “reckless and irresponsible” comments made by Kremlin officials.
President Vladimir Putin, speaking last week, suggested that Russia is evaluating changes to its military doctrine, where an attack by a non-nuclear nation, such as Ukraine, with the backing of a nuclear-armed state, would be considered a “joint attack” in Russia’s eyes.
Putin’s remarks were made against the backdrop of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to gain authorization for deploying long-range Western missiles to target Russian military installations.
At his first official press conference since assuming leadership of NATO, the former Dutch prime minister touched on critical security matters confronting the alliance.
Though Rutte backed Ukraine’s right to carry out strikes, he pointed out that lifting the restrictions is in the hands of its allies. He urged NATO countries to continue arming Ukraine, believing that intensifying support would bring a quicker resolution to the war.
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“The cost of supporting Ukraine is far, far lower, than the cost we would face if we allow Putin to get his way,” Rutte said, reiterating his predecessor’s commitment to bringing Ukraine closer to Nato membership.
He acknowledged that the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine – where Russia is making slow but steady progress – was “difficult”.
He observed that the “tenuous” nature of the Ukrainian battlefield, where Russian advances, though slow and deliberate, are mounting pressure on defenses, remains a significant hurdle.
Rutte also underscored the limited scope of Russia’s gains, stressing that they had been achieved at a substantial price, with daily estimates indicating that 1,000 Russian soldiers were either killed or injured.
