MUNICH, Germany — Russia is suffering “crazy losses” in Ukraine, with approximately 65,000 soldiers lost in the last two months alone, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Saturday at the Munich Security Conference. Rutte further asserted that the Russian people should recognize the devastating cost of the war and actively work to end it, arguing that the conflict is ultimately destroying Russia itself.
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Rutte detailed the scale of recent Russian casualties, stating that 35,000 soldiers were lost in December and 30,000 in January. He suggested that these losses, whereas not immediately felt by the elite in Moscow and St. Petersburg, would inevitably spread throughout the country as the war continues at its current pace. “It is so bad for Russia,” Rutte stated, urging Russian citizens to “do everything you can to stop this, because it is killing Russia.”
Rutte’s comments came after NATO defense ministers convened in Brussels and announced a new package of $500 million in military aid to Ukraine, delivered through the Prioritized Ukrainian Requirements List (PURL). This aid will allow countries to procure U.S. Weapons for Ukraine, with over $200 million coming from Britain for air defense missiles, as Russia continues to target Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also attending the Munich Security Conference, expressed gratitude for the continued support from the U.S. And European nations, stating Ukraine is prepared to negotiate a peace deal. However, Zelensky voiced skepticism about Russia’s willingness to genuinely pursue peace, asserting that Russia’s ultimate goal is the total occupation of Ukraine and that ceding the Donbas region would not guarantee an end to the conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this sentiment, publicly questioning whether there is concrete evidence Russia desires a resolution to the war.
The conference also highlighted the uncertain future of Russia’s relationship with the West. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski suggested that a return to normal relations with Russia is unlikely under the current leadership, drawing a historical parallel to colonial wars which he said are typically ended by a change in leadership. Rutte echoed this cautious outlook, stating that for NATO, Russia remains a long-term threat to its territory and that a peace deal must arrive first before considering any normalization of relations.
The Moscow Times, which reported on Rutte’s remarks, has been designated an “undesirable” organization by Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office, a move the publication describes as a direct attempt to silence independent journalism.
