‘No way they can beat us’: Rutte rebuffs Russian nuclear threats to NATO
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has dismissed recent Russian nuclear threats regarding alliance exercises near Kaliningrad. Rutte emphasized that NATO remains a defensive alliance and urged member states to maintain calm while continuing support for Ukraine.
Why it matters
The exchange highlights the high-stakes rhetoric and potential for escalation between NATO and Russia in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Moscow and NATO have exchanged tense letters in recent days following Russian opposition to alliance exercises near its Kaliningrad exclave.
Copy Link Copied Share via email Share on X Share on WhatsApp Share on LinkedIn Free article usually reserved for subscribers Mark Rutte attends a public hearing in The Hague on Sept. 7, 2026. | Remko de Waal/ANP/AFP via Getty Images September 30, 2026 5:13 pm CET By Victor Jack BRUSSELS — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday issued a strong rebuke to Russia after Moscow sent a letter to the alliance threatening nuclear escalation over NATO activity near its border.
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