Ljubljana, October 13, 2025 – In a stark address to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s 71st Annual Session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte cautioned that Russia remains a “deeply dangerous” adversary despite its battlefield setbacks in Ukraine. Rutte emphasized the need for NATO allies to bolster deterrence, enhance civil preparedness, and counter Moscow’s escalating hybrid warfare tactics, which include cyberattacks, sabotage, and espionage targeting allied nations. His remarks underscored a delicate balance: acknowledging Russia’s vulnerabilities while warning against underestimating its capacity to destabilize the West.
“We should not underestimate the threat from Russia, but we should not overestimate Russia’s capabilities either,” Rutte told the assembly of parliamentarians from NATO’s 32 member states. “While Russia is not as strong as it will pretend, it remains deeply dangerous, and that is why it is absolutely essential that we ensure we are prepared.”
Rutte’s speech comes at a critical juncture for NATO, as the alliance navigates a complex security landscape marked by Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, rising hybrid threats, and broader geopolitical tensions. The Secretary-General’s remarks reflect NATO’s evolving strategy to address both conventional and unconventional challenges posed by Moscow, while also reinforcing support for Ukraine and addressing emerging concerns in other regions, such as the Middle East.
Russia’s Hybrid Warfare Intensifies
Rutte highlighted Russia’s growing reliance on hybrid tactics as a means to undermine NATO’s unity and destabilize its member states. These tactics, he noted, include sophisticated cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, sabotage operations aimed at disrupting supply chains, and espionage efforts to gather sensitive intelligence. “Russia is intensifying its hybrid attacks across Europe,” Rutte warned, pointing to recent incidents that have raised alarm among allied governments.
While Rutte did not provide specific examples during his address, recent reports have linked Russia to several high-profile incidents. In 2024, for instance, European authorities uncovered alleged Russian sabotage plots targeting military and energy infrastructure in Poland, Germany, and the Baltic states. Cyberattacks attributed to Russian state-sponsored actors have also disrupted government services and private-sector operations in multiple NATO countries, including a significant ransomware attack on a major European energy provider earlier this year.
These hybrid threats, Rutte argued, are designed to exploit vulnerabilities in NATO’s collective defense framework, sow discord among allies, and erode public trust in democratic institutions. “Moscow’s goal is to weaken our resolve and divide us,” he said. “We must respond with unity, resilience, and a commitment to strengthening our deterrence.”
Russia’s Response and NATO’s Concerns
Russia has not yet issued an official response to Rutte’s remarks, but Kremlin officials have consistently dismissed similar accusations in the past. Moscow maintains that NATO’s eastward expansion, particularly its support for Ukraine, represents a direct threat to Russia’s national security. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reiterated this stance in a recent statement, accusing NATO of “provoking conflict” by supplying weapons to Kyiv and expanding its military presence near Russia’s borders.
The Kremlin’s narrative frames NATO’s actions as aggressive and destabilizing, a claim that has fueled tensions since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that NATO’s support for Ukraine risks escalating the conflict into a broader confrontation, a point that Rutte indirectly addressed by emphasizing the alliance’s commitment to avoiding direct military engagement with Russia while supporting Kyiv.
Strengthening NATO’s Defenses
Rutte stressed that NATO’s response to Russia’s aggression must focus on strengthening deterrence and defense capabilities. He noted that European allies and Canada are making significant strides in increasing defense spending to align with the United States, which has historically borne the largest share of NATO’s defense burden. According to NATO’s 2025 defense expenditure report, 23 of the alliance’s 32 members are expected to meet or exceed the target of spending 2% of GDP on defense this year, a marked improvement from a decade ago when only a handful met this benchmark.
The Secretary-General also highlighted efforts to expand NATO’s defense industrial base, which he described as critical to sustaining long-term support for Ukraine and ensuring the alliance’s readiness. “We are ramping up production of munitions, air defense systems, and other critical capabilities,” Rutte said. “This is not just about meeting immediate needs but about building a resilient defense ecosystem for the future.”
A key component of this strategy is NATO’s support for Ukraine, which Rutte described as a moral and strategic imperative. He announced that a new initiative, spearheaded by the United States, has delivered $2 billion worth of military equipment to Kyiv, including advanced air defense systems, artillery, and armored vehicles. “This support is keeping Ukraine in the fight and saving lives,” Rutte said, underscoring the alliance’s commitment to Kyiv’s defense against Russian aggression.
Ukraine’s Fight and NATO’s Role
Ukraine’s ongoing resistance to Russia’s invasion has become a central focus of NATO’s agenda, with the alliance providing billions in military and humanitarian aid since the war began. Rutte praised Ukraine’s resilience, noting that its forces have achieved significant battlefield successes, including the recapture of territory in the eastern Donbas region and the disruption of Russian supply lines. However, he cautioned that Russia’s military remains a formidable force, capable of adapting and sustaining its operations despite heavy losses.
NATO’s support for Ukraine extends beyond military aid, with the alliance also providing training, intelligence, and logistical support to Ukrainian forces. Rutte emphasized the importance of long-term commitments, including Ukraine’s potential path to NATO membership, a topic that remains contentious among allies due to concerns about escalating tensions with Russia. “Ukraine’s future is in NATO,” Rutte said, echoing a statement from the 2023 Vilnius Summit, though he acknowledged that the timeline and conditions for membership remain under discussion.
A Brief Nod to the Middle East
In a brief but notable aside, Rutte addressed recent developments in the Middle East, describing the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as “a good day for peace and stability.” The ceasefire, brokered through international mediation, has temporarily halted hostilities in the region, raising hopes for a more durable resolution. Rutte expressed optimism that the principles of dialogue and de-escalation underpinning the ceasefire could one day be applied to Europe’s conflicts, particularly in Ukraine.
While NATO’s primary focus remains on Euro-Atlantic security, Rutte’s comments reflect the alliance’s growing awareness of global interconnectedness. Instability in the Middle East, he noted, has ripple effects that can exacerbate challenges in Europe, including migration flows and energy market disruptions. “Peace and security in the Middle East are not just regional issues—they matter to all of us,” he said.
Preparing for an Uncertain Future
Rutte concluded his address by urging NATO members to invest in civil preparedness, including strengthening critical infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity, and building societal resilience against hybrid threats. He cited the need for governments to work closely with private-sector partners to protect energy grids, communication networks, and transportation systems, which are increasingly targeted by adversarial actors.
The Secretary-General also called for greater public engagement, emphasizing that NATO’s strength lies in the collective will of its citizens. “Our deterrence is only as strong as the societies that underpin it,” he said. “We must ensure that our people understand the stakes and are prepared to support our shared defense.”
As NATO prepares for its 2026 Summit in The Hague, Rutte’s leadership will be closely watched. His tenure, which began earlier this year, has been marked by a pragmatic approach to balancing deterrence with diplomacy, a challenge that will define the alliance’s trajectory in the years ahead. For now, his message in Ljubljana was clear: Russia’s hybrid threats and battlefield ambitions require a united, vigilant, and resilient NATO.
Conclusion
Mark Rutte’s address to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly underscored the complex and multifaceted challenges facing the alliance in 2025. From Russia’s hybrid warfare to the ongoing war in Ukraine and emerging opportunities for peace in the Middle East, NATO is navigating a volatile global landscape. By emphasizing deterrence, defense investment, and support for Ukraine, Rutte sought to rally allies around a shared vision of security and resilience. As the alliance looks to the future, its ability to adapt to evolving threats while maintaining unity will be critical to its success.
