NATO Secretary General warns of new security reality in Europe

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Europe cannot be considered to be in a state of peace today due to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine and the growing number of hostile actions by Moscow against European countries.

Rutte said this on October 1 in Münster during the ceremony of awarding the International Westphalian Peace Prize, which he received on behalf of NATO.

"Europe is not in a state of peace today", — the Alliance's Secretary General stated.

He pointed to the ongoing full-scale war in Ukraine and the growing list of Russian hybrid attacks on European territory.

According to Rutte, such actions include cyberattacks, sabotage, arson, airspace violations and drone incidents. He specifically mentioned the attack at Leipzig airport in August, which NATO links to Russia.

The NATO Secretary General said that Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no readiness to stop the war against Ukraine and, on the contrary, continues to intensify it. Rutte believes that Moscow is trying to intimidate European countries and weaken their support for Kyiv.

"Putin wants to intimidate and divide us, but he will not succeed. Our response to his hostile actions is to support Ukraine even more", — Rutte stated.

Earlier that day, after a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, the NATO head said that Russia is "testing" European countries through airspace violations, arson and sabotage. At the same time, according to the Alliance's assessment, there is currently no immediate threat of a conventional military attack by Russia on NATO territory.

Rutte warned that the campaign of hostile actions against allies is likely to continue, so governments, societies and industries of NATO countries need to remain ready. He also called on Alliance member states to continue investing in defense and support for Ukraine.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who spoke in Münster together with Rutte, also said that the European security order is facing a threat from Russia. According to him, Germany is preparing, among other things, for serious hybrid attacks and intends to respond quickly to such actions.

Based on materials from: The Guardian, NATO.