NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte delivers a blunt warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin over nuclear threats and rising tensions with NATO. Rutte addresses Russia’s nuclear rhetoric, NATO’s response and the alliance’s commitment to protecting its members amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
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00:00Russia continues its reckless campaign of hostile actions against NATO allies.
00:06It is trying to weaken our resolve and stop our support for Ukraine.
00:11But Russia is failing.
00:13It is failing on the battlefield in Ukraine,
00:16and it is failing to undermine our unity and support for Ukraine.
00:24Good morning and welcome.
00:26We are very happy to have the Prime Minister of Lithuania here with us today.
00:30We will start with remarks from the Secretary-General,
00:32followed by remarks from the Prime Minister,
00:35and then we will take your questions.
00:37Prime Minister Sienkiewicz, dear Mindaugas,
00:41it is a pleasure to welcome you to NATO headquarters for the first time as Prime Minister.
00:47And we have just discussed how we will continue to keep NATO strong and successful
00:53and Lithuania safe and secure.
00:57NATO defends every inch of Allied territory against any threat from any direction.
01:04Just two weeks ago, Italian jets deployed by NATO from Shoal Air Base
01:10shot down a drone that violated Lithuania's airspace.
01:14This is collective defense in action.
01:18The repeated drone incidents along our eastern flank show the evolving nature of the threat.
01:25And we are strengthening our integrated air and missile defense.
01:29A multi-layered 360-degree approach that gives us greater protection against the full range of airborne threats.
01:39Through initiatives such as drone edge, we are adapting and reinforcing our posture against drones.
01:46We will strengthen cheaper counter-drone defenses, so we are not using high-end jets against low-cost threats.
01:56NATO will continue to be the shield that protects the skies.
02:01Over Lithuania, the Baltic region, and of course beyond.
02:05NATO is also with you in the Baltic Sea, and with NATO foreign land forces based in Lithuania.
02:11You are investing heavily in the development of the Routeninkai training area,
02:18the largest military infrastructure project in your country's history, to host these troops.
02:25Lithuania leads, by example, on defense investment.
02:29This year, you are expected to reach 5.38% of GDP for core defense spending.
02:36Lithuania doesn't just meet its commitments.
02:39It sets the standards.
02:41On Ukraine, Lithuania has committed at least 0.25% of GDP annually in military assistance,
02:48with a clear focus on air defense and ammunition.
02:52You are also spearheading practical industrial cooperation,
02:56having already contributed 38 million dollars directly into Ukraine's defense industry
03:03and advancing joint production.
03:07Prime Minister, you were recently yourself in Ukraine,
03:10and I welcome Lithuania's commitment to support Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of winter
03:17and provide other help, including with railway locomotives.
03:22Russia continues its reckless campaign of hostile actions against NATO allies.
03:28It is trying to weaken our resolve and stop our support for Ukraine.
03:34But Russia is failing.
03:36It is failing on the battlefield in Ukraine,
03:38and it is failing to undermine our unity and support for Ukraine.
03:43Our message to Moscow is clear.
03:47We will do even more for Ukraine, and not less.
03:53Prime Minister Sienkiewicz, dear Mindaugas,
03:56thank you for your personal commitment to NATO
03:59and for everything Lithuania is doing for our great alliance.
04:04Along with its allies, Lithuania is helping to build a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO.
04:11European allies and Canada are stepping up, investing more,
04:15expanding production and taking greater responsibility for our shared security.
04:21That makes NATO stronger and Lithuania more secure.
04:25So thank you, and I look forward to continuing our good work together.
04:33Dear Secretary General, dear Mark,
04:36thank you very much for this warm welcome
04:40and opportunity to have a discussion.
04:44Today we have, I would say, excellent discussion
04:48on NATO strength, unity, collective deterrence, and, of course, defense.
04:54Our talks focused on the three primary areas,
04:59NATO deterrence and defense in response to Russia's hostile action,
05:06preparedness on the eastern flank, because Lithuania is on the eastern flank,
05:13and, in particular, it's when it comes to the security in the field of air defense.
05:21And the third topic is also of great importance, both for Lithuania and NATO,
05:27is the sustained support for Ukraine.
05:30So the security in Europe is challenging and tense.
05:36Russia's actions are becoming increasingly hostile and less restrained.
05:42We see the hybrid attacks, both in Lithuania, Poland, Germany, elsewhere,
05:49and it's not a question of proximity now.
05:52It's a question of Russia's action.
05:57And we believe, the Lithuanians believe, that these actions,
06:04these tests that we're facing are a part of a broader and persistent campaign
06:12to destabilize our societies, weaken our resilience,
06:17and challenge NATO's unity and credibility.
06:23But I think that the political claim is our security is shared
06:30and our response is collective.
06:33So, therefore, Lithuania invests, it was already said,
06:39already by these years, the commitment was 5.38% of GDP,
06:45and we will be remaining for upcoming year in the 5% club, as we call it.
06:52So that's a long-term commitment, political commitment.
06:57Despite the changes in the government, we will remain on this path.
07:04And, of course, next to the spendings,
07:07we are heavily preparing on the permanent deployment of German Brigade
07:13by the end of 2027, and we are firmly on track.
07:19I used this opportunity to invite you by the year 2027
07:25to at least participate in this ceremonial opening
07:29and the start of full operation.
07:33So, therefore, we will have to be on time.
07:36We have no deadlines to be met on time, no delays.
07:40So the political willingness is there.
07:44Thank you, NATO and allies, for Ankara summit decisions,
07:50having NATO decisions for turning air policing mission
07:58into air defense mission.
08:00We know how it practically worked a few weeks ago
08:04when we managed to attack the drone or land the drone
08:15and attack it with the jet fighters from Shoalai air base.
08:24So, and I think one additional to what was being said
08:29and what was discussed is Ukraine.
08:33Supporting Ukraine is also a political commitment.
08:37We'll be standing next to Ukraine.
08:40I was recently visiting colleagues, Mr. Prime Minister,
08:46and talked how can we additionally what we're already doing
08:50to help them out because winter is coming
08:52and it will be difficult energy-wise
08:56and, of course, difficult to handle.
09:01So, both Lithuania and NATO should try to address
09:05and help as much as we can.
09:07So, concluding, dear Mark,
09:10thank you for today's productive exchange
09:12on your leadership
09:14and hopefully we'll meet again
09:18and discuss these topics
09:19hopefully in better and peaceful times.
09:23But, until then, we have to work.
09:25Absolutely. Thanks all.
09:27Great.
09:28All right. We have time for a few questions.
09:30We'll start with Lithuania here in the third row.
09:35Good morning.
09:39Secretary General, I have a few questions for you.
09:42Maybe at first,
09:44we know about Plan Sabotage Act in Leipzig
09:47in other parts of Germany, United Kingdom, Denmark.
09:51Also, you mentioned downtrodden in Lithuania.
09:54We hear quite a few countries saying
09:57let's stop calling this our hybrid threats
09:59because it is not hybrid nor threats anymore.
10:04Would you agree with that,
10:06that we should stop calling hybrid threats?
10:09And then what response should be
10:13because it is clear that
10:16that approach that we have right now
10:19is not deterring
10:20and another question is
10:22we hear Prime Minister of Poland,
10:24Cancellor of Germany
10:26talking about decisive weeks or months
10:29both for Ukraine and for Europe.
10:32With that information that you have,
10:34can we say that we reach the peak
10:37of those decisive weeks
10:39or we are just turning to that peak
10:42and what should we expect?
10:45Well, first on the word hybrid,
10:46I've said this many times before,
10:48it sounds a bit costly
10:49and in the end,
10:50these are grey zone tactics
10:53and what we are seeing,
10:54these can be drones
10:55or sabotage
10:56or even cyber attacks.
10:59But hey, we have all the response options we need.
11:03You will not always see them public.
11:05They will not always be symmetric.
11:08It will not always be tit for tat.
11:10But we have the response options we need.
11:13You have seen it in the past.
11:15For example,
11:16when it came to the cutting
11:17of the undersea sea cable
11:19between Finland and Estonia
11:21in the late 2025,
11:22we launched Baltic Sentry,
11:25which is protecting
11:26our vital undersea infrastructure.
11:29And from Baltic Sentry,
11:31more and more what we are seeing
11:32is allies.
11:34And so this was symmetric.
11:37Asymmetric is what happened after that,
11:38also visible,
11:39that more and more allies
11:41are making it more difficult
11:42for Russia's shadow fleet
11:44to function.
11:45We have allies like Sweden
11:47and the United Kingdom
11:48and Belgium and France.
11:50The French president
11:50has taken whole initiative on this
11:52in October last year,
11:54working on the shadow fleet
11:56and making sure
11:57that these leaking old ships
11:58are not providing Russia
12:00with money.
12:03More generally speaking,
12:04I would urge some calm
12:06because we are investing
12:08in our defense.
12:10Russia is not in a good place.
12:12Their economy is not in a good place.
12:13When you look at Ukraine,
12:15they're losing at the moment
12:16over 40,000 a month,
12:18dead or seriously wounded,
12:20a month.
12:20These numbers are staggering.
12:22They are huge.
12:23Terrible news for the families
12:25involved here, obviously.
12:27But this also shows you
12:28that you have to deal
12:29with a president
12:30who is willing to sacrifice
12:31now up to 1.2 million
12:33of his own people
12:33in a totally unprovoked war
12:36of aggression against Ukraine.
12:38So some calm is in place here.
12:40But also carry on.
12:41Carry on with the investments
12:42like the Lithuanian government
12:43is doing
12:44and the rest of NATO
12:45is doing at the moment.
12:47Carry on making NATO stronger.
12:49And finally,
12:50next to calm and carry on,
12:52keep the support for Ukraine going.
12:53Because the best response
12:55to any action
12:57in this gray zone
12:58of what Russia is doing
13:00is more support for Ukraine
13:02instead of less support for Ukraine.
13:03Because in the end,
13:04what they want to do
13:05is divide us
13:05and lose focus on Ukraine
13:08and start discussing
13:09amongst each other
13:10what's happening
13:10and why
13:11and how does this
13:12all fit together.
13:13No.
13:14Calm.
13:15Carry on.
13:15And support Ukraine.
13:16More support for Ukraine,
13:17not less support for Ukraine.
13:18And exactly as we are doing,
13:20also thanks to the European Union,
13:21the Ukraine support loan,
13:23the excellent news
13:24that we have now reached
13:24the 10 billion threshold
13:26when it comes to the pearl money.
13:28These are vital stuff
13:29from the U.S. into Ukraine
13:31paid for by Canada
13:33and European allies,
13:34including here,
13:35the European Union
13:36playing a big role.
13:38So all of this
13:39is crucial.
13:41It's important.
13:42We should not be naive about,
13:43to your second question,
13:44not be naive about Russia.
13:47But they know
13:47we are stronger.
13:48And we have to make sure
13:49by carrying on
13:50our investments
13:51that we are also stronger
13:52in two, three,
13:53and five years from now.
13:54And that's exactly
13:55what we are doing.
13:56All right.
13:57We're just about out of time.
13:58We'll take one final question.
13:59AFP.
14:05Thank you, Olivier Beau
14:06from AFP.
14:08I have a question to you,
14:10Prime Minister,
14:10following what Mr. Guter
14:12said on the need
14:13to stay calm.
14:15I mean,
14:15are you worried
14:16that this increasing hysteria
14:18and fear
14:19of hybrid attacks
14:22exaggerating the threat
14:23could undermine
14:25Europe's confidence
14:25and play into
14:27Russia's end at the end?
14:29And for you,
14:30Secretary General,
14:31if I may,
14:34you say that
14:35Russia's campaign
14:37hybrid campaign
14:38is failing,
14:39but it doesn't look like
14:40when they are managing
14:41to set fire
14:42to key facilities,
14:44disrupt railway lines
14:46and causing panic
14:47in Europe,
14:48does that look like failure?
14:53So, of course,
14:56Russia seeks
14:56to spread fear
15:00to bring the division
15:02among our societies,
15:04but it will not succeed.
15:06We're not shaking,
15:08we're not shivering,
15:10we're doing
15:10what is meant
15:12to be done.
15:12We're investing hugely
15:14in our military capabilities,
15:17in our defense capabilities,
15:20and we'll be continuing.
15:22Of course,
15:23there's a lot of public statements
15:25brought in,
15:26and I think there's
15:27already well-established,
15:31well,
15:32what we can see publicly,
15:34someone is always
15:36emphasizing the risks.
15:38you can always
15:39try to talk about it,
15:41but I think
15:43we're doing more
15:46that is not publicly seen.
15:48We're investing,
15:49we're getting ready,
15:50we're getting prepared,
15:51we're working with the societies,
15:53calming down the societies.
15:54I think it's
15:56a must
15:57to say
15:59if the threat
15:59is there
16:00for the society,
16:01but you can't
16:03exaggerate
16:04and say,
16:04oh,
16:05something is happening
16:06in the coming months
16:07or weeks,
16:08but what?
16:09I was addressing
16:10also to the Secretary General,
16:11is there any proof,
16:13real proof,
16:14intelligence services
16:15are providing
16:16something on the table
16:17that Russia
16:19is getting ready
16:19for something?
16:21And there is actually
16:22none.
16:23So, I mean,
16:23the risk
16:25remains,
16:26but it's not fluctuating
16:28or is it increasing
16:29or decreasing.
16:29So, I think
16:30we have to,
16:31in a sense,
16:33calmly do our work
16:34and we're doing that.
16:36And I think
16:36that
16:39our unity
16:41will remain
16:42and we do understand
16:45that this unity
16:46makes us strong.
16:48So,
16:48if we will be divided,
16:50then we'll lack strength,
16:52our strength,
16:52but I think
16:53that we agree
16:55together
16:55with the Secretary General
16:56so that,
16:57so we will not,
17:01we will do everything
17:02to remain calm,
17:04steady,
17:05working
17:05and united
17:07for the sake
17:08of alliance
17:09and for the sake
17:10of our national
17:12countries
17:12and societies.
17:13and I totally agree
17:16and to your
17:17second question,
17:19no,
17:19I'm not saying
17:20that these malign
17:21grey zone
17:22activities
17:23are not having
17:24an impact.
17:24They can have
17:25an impact
17:25and sometimes
17:25they have
17:26an impact,
17:26clearly.
17:27What I'm saying
17:28is we have
17:28all the response
17:29options,
17:29sometimes visible,
17:30sometimes not,
17:31not always public,
17:32not always tit
17:33for tat.
17:35You've heard
17:36the Supreme
17:37Allied Commander
17:37yesterday
17:38saying,
17:38hey,
17:39when able,
17:40when you're
17:41sure
17:41that the Russians
17:42are almost sure
17:43that the Russians
17:43attributed to the Russians,
17:45exactly like Estonia
17:46did today,
17:47I applaud it,
17:48and also share
17:49whatever information
17:50you have as allies
17:51with NATO,
17:52with SHAPE,
17:52and with the team
17:53of the Supreme
17:54Allied Commander
17:55so that we have
17:55to complete pitch.
17:57So the response
17:57options are there,
17:58we do what is necessary,
18:00and allies can help
18:01indeed by exhibiting,
18:03but also by making sure
18:05that we have the
18:05collective overview
18:08of what is happening.
18:09It's exactly as we are
18:09doing in the spirit
18:11of staying calm,
18:12carry on,
18:13we are stronger,
18:14and they know it.
18:15All right,
18:16that's all we have
18:16time for today.
18:17Thank you so much
18:17for joining us.
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