New NATO Chief Rutte: I Support NATO Weapon Strikes on Russian Targets, But Each Member Will Decide Individually

NATO’s newly appointed Secretary General, Mark Rutte, expressed his support for NATO weapons strikes on targets within Russia, but said that such decisions will be made independently by each NATO member during a briefing on October 1.

Speaking on Ukraine’s right to self-defense, NATO Chief said: “Ukraine is fighting a war of self-defense. This means that Ukraine has the right to defend itself. And as we know, according to international law, this right does not end at the border. This means supporting Ukraine’s right to self-defense. But each ally determines the level of its support for Ukraine. It is not me who decides on behalf of the Alliance. It is the partners who decide.”

Rutte also said that without US support, Ukraine likely wouldn’t exist as a country today, but the costs of supporting Ukraine are far lower than the costs NATO and Europe would face if Putin succeeds.

He added that supporting Ukraine is the right decision and an investment in European security, so strong, independent Ukraine is essential for lasting security in Europe.

New Secretary General also urged not to listen to Russia’s nuclear threats and said that the allies do not see any direct risks of using nuclear weapons, noting that if the world starts to make concessions to Putin’s threats in general, it will set a dangerous precedent for the future.