NATO Will Respond To Any Foolish Move: Rutte Warned Putin

• 26.06.2026, 9:14

The Alliance's Secretary-General explained what "Vladimir is afraid of."

At the summit in Ankara on July 7–8, NATO countries will announce defense deals worth tens of billions of dollars.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Alliance countries intend to significantly strengthen defense-industrial cooperation and will announce defense deals worth tens of billions of dollars at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7–8.

According to Reuters, during a speech in Washington, he stated that this meeting would send a strong signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the alliance is ready to respond to any “foolish move against us.”

Rutte said that Putin “is not afraid of commitments; he is afraid that we will fulfill them, and that is exactly what we are doing, Vladimir. We will defend ourselves.”

He also highlighted NATO’s advantage in defense production.

“This is a message to the Russians: we know what you’re doing, and we’re better at it,” he said.

Rutte revealed that Alliance member countries will underscore their commitment to defense spending targets at the summit.

“At the summit, we will hold a major defense industry day on the first day. You will see a huge number of new contracts, letters of intent, and the signing of major agreements,” Rutte said.

The NATO Secretary General emphasized that such steps should demonstrate the North Atlantic Alliance’s resolve to both its own citizens and Russia.

He also announced that NATO countries will reaffirm their support for Ukraine at the summit.

“Our security is intertwined. Ukraine has shown that Russia’s aggression will not stop us,” he said.