Russia is suffering “crazy losses” in Ukraine, with approximately 65,000 soldiers lost in the last two months, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated Saturday at the Munich Security Conference.
Rutte’s assessment comes as NATO continues to assess and adapt to the evolving threat posed by Russia’s military capabilities, particularly its air defenses. According to a recent report, Russia’s air defenses have develop into a greater threat to NATO aircraft than they were before 2022, having learned and adapted from their experiences in Ukraine.
The NATO Secretary General emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is trying to break the people of Ukraine, hoping to weaken their resolve,” but asserted that Ukraine and its people have repeatedly demonstrated their resilience. Rutte stressed that Ukraine “cannot sustain this fight or secure the peace alone,” and highlighted the importance of continued allied support through NATO.
Ukraine’s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is scheduled to participate in talks with NATO allies at the upcoming NATO ministerial, focusing on ways to enhance and improve the effectiveness of allied support. This follows a visit to Ukraine by Rutte last week, where he witnessed firsthand the impact of Russia’s “relentless attacks.”
NATO has consistently condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine, deeming it an illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked act of aggression that undermines Euro-Atlantic and global security. The alliance aligns its position with relevant resolutions from the United Nations General Assembly, demanding an end to the conflict.
