'Putin will lose if he attacks NATO': Rutte on Russian threat in Europe

He made this statement during a press conference before the meeting in the Ramstein format.

Rutte stated that if Putin were to attack NATO, he would lose, as the response would be devastating. He emphasized the power of NATO’s defense potential. At the same time, he noted that the speed at which Putin is boosting Russia’s production and strengthening its defense industry cannot be compared to NATO’s efforts.

Rutte stressed that the Alliance must increase spending on both its own defense and assistance to Ukraine, ensuring it is capable of defending itself if necessary. He pointed out that NATO needs to have the resources required for defense, mentioning that while NATO has strong companies, they are not producing enough.

He explained that increasing defense spending would incentivize companies like Rheinmetall to expand production lines and build more military capabilities, adding that NATO must consider this.

• At the end of January, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius mentioned the theoretical possibility of a Russian attack on NATO countries in 2029–2030.