Photo: Mark Rütte / Depositphotos
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a stern warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that any attack on Poland or another member state will result in a “devastating” response. This was reported by MSN. Speaking today, 26 March 2025, in Warsaw, Rutte emphasised: “If someone makes the mistake of thinking that an attack on Poland or any other ally will go unpunished, they will face the full force of this formidable alliance. Our response will be devastating.” He added: “This should be absolutely clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and anyone who dares to attack us.”
This abrupt announcement comes amid growing concerns among NATO countries bordering Russia, including Poland and the Baltic states. They are concerned that negotiations between the US and Russia to end the war in Ukraine could end in a settlement favourable to Putin, allowing him to restore Russia’s military might. As a reminder, on 24 February 2022, Russia launched a “full-scale invasion” of Ukraine, triggering an international crisis. In the first days of the war, Moscow threatened to capture Kyiv, but thanks to the strong support of European allies and the United States under the leadership of Joe Biden, Ukraine launched a counter-offensive and even captured Russian territories around Kursk.
In recent days, as EU countries, together with the UK, have been actively working towards a diplomatic solution, there have been hopes that the end of the conflict may be near. However, it remains to be seen whether this development will guarantee long-term stability in Europe. Earlier this month, during a meeting with Rutte at the White House, Donald Trump suggested that a peaceful settlement for Ukraine would not provoke new Russian attacks on other countries. However, Rutte warned that Putin could launch an offensive on European territory by the end of the decade. “Let us not forget that Russia is and will remain the most serious and darkest threat to our alliance. Russia is transitioning to a wartime economy, which will greatly enhance its ability to build up its armed forces,” he stressed.
Fears among NATO countries have been heightened by Trump’s threats to tear up 80 years of security guarantees during Russia’s war with Ukraine. In response, a number of European leaders promised to rearm the continent. Sweden, in particular, plans to increase defence spending by around SEK 300 billion (USD 30 billion) over the next decade. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called it “the most ambitious step towards rearmament since the Cold War”.
Just a few days ago, Germany, a country that has traditionally avoided taking on large amounts of debt, passed a historic bill that allows for a significant increase in defence and infrastructure spending. The new €500 billion (US$547 billion; £420 billion) infrastructure fund is designed to ease the strict borrowing rules imposed after the 2008 global financial crisis. German lawmakers attributed the move to Russian aggression and doubts about the US commitment to European security. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder said: “The threat from the East, from Moscow, has not disappeared, while the support from the West is not what we are used to. I am a staunch transatlanticist, but the trust in the United States, at least for me and many others, has been seriously undermined. The Germans are worried.”
This escalation in rhetoric and action shows that NATO is preparing for all possible scenarios, remaining vigilant in the face of the Russian threat. Whether a new round of tensions can be avoided depends on the next steps taken by all parties to the conflict.
