Rutte Warns ‘War Is at Our Door’ as NATO Urged to Brace for Russian Threat
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a stark warning that a potential war with Russia is “right at our doorstep,” urging European nations to take immediate action or risk facing a conflict on the scale of what earlier generations lived through.
Speaking in Berlin on Thursday, Rutte said too many NATO countries remain “quietly complacent” about Moscow’s growing threat. He stressed the urgent need for Europe to boost defence budgets and increase weapons production to deter Vladimir Putin.
“We are Russia’s next target,” Rutte said. “Far too many people don’t feel the urgency. Many think time is on our side — it isn’t. The moment to act is now. Conflict is at our door. Russia has brought war back to Europe, and we must be ready.”
Rutte warned that Russia could be capable of launching military action against NATO within five years. Without rapid investment and preparation, he said Europe risks being dragged into a war reminiscent of the catastrophic conflicts of the last century.
His comments came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held emergency discussions with leaders and officials from around 30 countries supporting Ukraine’s push for fair terms in any potential settlement with Russia. Zelensky suggested the talks were hastily organised as Kyiv seeks to avoid being cornered by Donald Trump’s pressure for a quick deal.
European leaders are trying to influence the direction of peace negotiations, arguing that their own security depends on the outcome.
Trump said on Wednesday that he and European leaders had spoken “in pretty strong terms” about possible proposals, adding that Zelensky “needs to be realistic” about a plan that could involve giving up some Ukrainian territory — though he provided no details.
Trump’s latest attempt to force a settlement is taking longer than expected. He had originally set a hard deadline for Kyiv to accept his plan before Thanksgiving, but previous U.S. deadlines have also passed without progress.