⚠️ War Rhetoric Escalates: Kremlin Slams NATO Chief’s "WWII-Scale" Warnings

A sharp diplomatic rift has emerged following a keynote speech by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Berlin on December 11, 2025. Rutte warned that NATO members are "Russia's next target" and urged allies to prepare for a conflict on the "scale of war our grandparents endured"—a direct reference to World War II.

The Kremlin's Rebuttal: Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's press secretary, dismissed the remarks as "irresponsible" and "historically ignorant."

• Generational Critique: Peskov argued that Rutte’s rhetoric proves he belongs to a generation that has forgotten the actual horrors of 1939–1945, contrasting this with the Russian memory of the "Great Patriotic War."

• Strategic Denial: Moscow continues to maintain that it has no aggressive plans against NATO or EU soil, with Foreign Minister Lavrov even offering to provide written guarantees to that effect.

The "Fear-Mongering" Debate: Some analytical outlets, including Unherd, have questioned the timing of Rutte's alarmism. They suggest the narrative of an "inevitable war" within five years is a calculated political tool designed to:

1. Boost Defense Budgets: Justify the massive increase in military spending across the EU.

2. Combat Complacency: Counter the "war fatigue" appearing in several European electorates regarding the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.