On December 12, citing a report from the UK’s Daily Telegraph website on December 11, Reference News reported that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned on the 11th that the West is facing a war with Russia on a scale not seen since the era of “our grandparents and great-grandparents”.
Rutte stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has chosen NATO as his “next target”, marking one of his strongest warnings to date about the potential spread of war across Europe.
Speaking in Berlin, Rutte said: “The conflict is on our doorstep. Russia has brought war back to Europe, and we must be prepared for a large-scale war comparable to that experienced by our grandparents or great-grandparents.”
He added: “We need to be clear about the threat. We are Russia’s next target, and we are already in danger.”
Rutte’s comments came as a week of intense diplomacy drew to a close. Ukraine and its European allies have submitted a new peace plan to the US Trump administration, which will be discussed in Paris this weekend.
On the 11th, reports emerged of growing tensions among European leaders. It was reported that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is pressuring Kyiv to accept “painful” concessions, apparently acting on behalf of Washington’s stance.
Putin Assesses the Outcome of “War with Europe”
Citing a report from Russia’s RIA Novosti on December 2, Reference News reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin assessed the outcome of a potential military conflict with EU countries on the 2nd. He said that if Europe were to launch a war against Russia, Moscow would defeat its opponents quickly.
According to the report, Putin attended the annual “Russia Calling!” International Investment Forum on that day. When answering reporters’ questions, he said: “If Europe suddenly decides to wage war against us and takes action, it is very likely that a situation will soon arise where no one will be left to negotiate with us.”
