Rutte Accuses Russia of “Reckless and Dangerous” Provocations as NATO Reviews Security Posture
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Wednesday that Russia has repeatedly violated Allied security, accusing Moscow of breaching airspace, carrying out sabotage, and deploying spy ships near NATO waters. Speaking at the opening of the foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, Rutte said the alliance is assessing progress made since the “historic” The Hague Summit while preparing for the next leaders’ gathering in Ankara in July 2026.
Rutte said the security environment remains highly volatile as “Russia continues to test NATO’s deterrence.” He cited recent incidents in which drones allegedly linked to Russia entered Polish and Romanian airspace, disrupted airports and military facilities in Western Europe, and sabotaged a key rail line between Warsaw and Kyiv in November. Poland has since deployed 10,000 troops to protect critical infrastructure, while Moscow denies any involvement.
The NATO chief also stressed that Russia is working more closely with China, North Korea, and Iran to undermine global stability. In response, he said, NATO is acting with “strength, unity and resolve,” as European allies and Canada increase defense spending. Still, Rutte urged member states to accelerate investment in defense industries, infrastructure, and innovation to bolster resilience.
Turning to Ukraine, Rutte emphasized the urgent need to step up military assistance as winter conditions worsen and Russian attacks persist. He welcomed US President Donald Trump’s continued efforts to end the conflict and called on allies to speed up contributions to the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a mechanism that enables the purchase of American-made weapons for Kyiv.
Later on Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha is expected to brief allies at the NATO–Ukraine Council working lunch on Kyiv’s latest military needs and ongoing peace efforts.
