NATO chief: Russia to remain a threat even after peace with Ukraine

Russia still will pose a long-term threat to NATO countries even after a peace agreement with Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said ahead of a meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the yearly foreign ministers’ level in Brussels, as reported by European Pravda.

“We are really focused […] on how to defend NATO territory against the Russians, our long-term threat, which will be there even after, I hope, there will be a [peace] deal on Ukraine,” Rutte said.

The Russian threat will persist for years, and NATO must adjust its plans to safeguard its territory, the former Dutch prime minister said. 

Rutte also reassured allies of the U.S.’s continued commitment to the Alliance, including the Article 5 statute, the cornerstone of NATO’s collective defense principle. 

He last visited the White House and spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump in mid-March where the two spoke about the urgent need to bring an end to the Russo-Ukrainian war and for more NATO members to increase defense spending and production of arms. 

At the same time, the NATO chief acknowledged that Washington expects more from European partners. 

“There is a clear expectation that we will match European NATO spending with that of the U.S., especially given the Russian threat, China’s nuclear expansion, and the risks posed by Iran and North Korea,” he said.