'Don't fool with us': Rutte sends tough message to Putin
Photo: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Getty Images)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed Russian leader Vladimir Putin during the Alliance summit in Ankara, warning the Kremlin leader not to provoke the bloc.
"Don't fool with us. Don't play with us. We will never attack anyone. We will only defend our way of life, our democracy, and our territory," Rutte said, addressing Putin.
He also stressed that Russia's massive missile strikes on Ukrainian cities demonstrate the Kremlin leader's desperation over the lack of success on the battlefield.
"I think the message, once again, was how desperate Putin is because the Ukrainians are doing well on the battlefield," the NATO chief said.
According to Rutte, Ukraine has achieved truly impressive results, including:
- delivering significant blows to the Russian economy;
- striking Russia's energy infrastructure;
- destroying Russia's defense-industrial capabilities deep behind the front lines.
Rutte added that the Russian army is no longer capable of carrying out breakthroughs on the battlefield as it was several months ago.
"Right now, it is something of a stalemate. So what happened last night was an indiscriminate attack on civilians, infrastructure, and cities in Ukraine. People are being killed, but this is not the way Russia will ever win this war," he added.
As RBC-Ukraine previously reported, Kyiv has already called on NATO to formally recognize Ukraine's new role within the Alliance for the first time.
Rutte also recently shared his outlook on possible peace negotiations with Putin amid Ukraine's latest military successes both on and beyond the battlefield.
In addition, it was announced how much funding NATO is prepared to allocate to Ukraine even without US participation.
