Rutte warns Russia could target NATO energy systems, citing lessons from Ukraine

“Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine has shown that energy will likely be one of the main targets in the event of any attack against NATO,” the report said. Rutte also described Russia as one of the alliance’s gravest threats and said NATO is “learning lessons from Ukraine.”

Rutte said Russia tested NATO throughout 2025 with “increasingly brazen actions, including airspace violations, sabotage and criminal cyberactivity.” In outlining efforts to strengthen protection for critical infrastructure, the secretary-general also cited the Baltic Sentry and Eastern Sentry missions launched in 2025.

The report said NATO would continue its “practical support” for Ukraine and efforts to achieve a “just and lasting peace.” Rutte also highlighted the PURL initiative introduced in July 2025.

He also stressed that NATO is working on plans to integrate Ukraine’s defense industry “into the industrial ecosystem of the allies.”

According to the report, NATO’s European members and Canada spent a combined $574 billion on defense in 2025 — up 20% in real terms from 2024.

Among European countries, only the Czech Republic and Hungary cut defense spending adjusted for inflation compared with 2024. The highest shares were posted by Poland at 4.3% of GDP, the Baltic states at 3.4%–4%, Denmark at 3.3% and Norway at 3.2%.

For the first time, all 32 allies met the target of spending 2% of GDP on defense — a goal first set in 2014.