Rutte said at a defense industry forum in Romania: “Russia will remain a destabilizing force in Europe and the world… They are preparing for a long-term confrontation, we cannot be naive, we must also be prepared.”
The press secretary of the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov, called on NATO to heed the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin to understand Russia’s position. Commenting on the statement by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that he has stopped listening to the speeches of the Russian President, Peskov told reporters: “This is precisely the problem of NATO and its leader. On one hand, they claim they do not listen to Russia, and on the other hand, they claim they do not understand it. Try listening, and you will understand.”
In recent years, Russia has consistently criticized NATO’s unprecedented activities along its western borders, as the alliance expands its initiatives, describing them as “deterring Russian aggression.” The Kremlin has stated that Russia poses no threat to anyone, but it will not ignore actions that might pose a risk to its interests.
