NATO warns: Putin could attack us, as he did against Ukraine

NATO member states must prepare for war and allocate more funds for their defense, because otherwise Russia "may try to do the same as in Ukraine". This was commented by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Welt reports.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on Germany to significantly increase its defense spending. Europe must not "show any weakness" towards Russia. There is also a threat from China.

"I tell you very clearly: we must prepare for war. This is the best way to avoid it", the Secretary General stated.

Rutte noted that European countries must not "show weakness" towards Russia. "Otherwise, Russia could try something. Just like in Ukraine", the NATO chief warned.

He added that the danger comes not only from today's Russia, but also from China. Rutte noted that the Chinese have "increasingly expanded" their military potential.

According to Rutte, Germany, a leading member of NATO and the European Union, must "spend and produce more" and "continue consistently" the path it has chosen both in Europe and in Ukraine.

"Given the size of the German economy, we ask them to do much more", the NATO secretary general noted.

But from Rutte's perspective, the dangers do not come only from Russia. The Chinese have also "increasingly expanded" its military capabilities.

The NATO chief also commented that the future defense spending quota will be well above two percent. More than two-thirds of NATO partners now spend more than two percent on armaments. This is also thanks to US President Donald Trump.

Earlier, Donald Trump asked European NATO members to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP.

On February 1, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius spoke out against Trump's demand to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP. "5 percent of our GDP would correspond to 42 percent of the federal budget, which is almost every second euro that the German government spends, or 230 billion euros. We cannot afford it and we cannot spend that much money," Pistorius said.