Mark Rutte says ‘too many are complacent’ about the threat of conflict with Moscow
Europe should prepare for a war “like our grandparents endured” and rapidly boost defence spending to deter the threat of Russia, Nato’s secretary general has warned.
Speaking at a conference in Berlin, Mark Rutte said that Europe needed to be “crystal clear” that “we are Russia’s next target” – and that Nato is “already in harm’s way”.
“I fear that too many are quietly complacent. Too many don’t feel the urgency. And too many believe that time is on our side. It is not. The time for action is now,” he said.
His comments come after US President Donald Trump says he exchanged “pretty strong words” with European leaders on a call discussing his proposal to end the Ukraine war.
Trump also said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky “has to be realistic” about his country’s position on a peace plan, and said the US will “make a determination depending on what they come back with”.