No imminent threat to NATO territory from Russia, Rutte says

NATO Secretary General Rutte: No Imminent Russian Threat to Alliance Territory

Rutte Addresses Russian Threats and NATO's Response

BRUSSELS, Sept 30 (Reuters) - NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday there was no imminent threat to NATO territory from Russia, in response to a warning issued by Moscow over the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Current Threat Assessment

The threat assessment regarding Russia was unchanged from three weeks, three months and a year ago, Rutte said, despite the warning sent to NATO by Moscow in a document seen by Reuters.

Details of Moscow's Warning

In the document, Russia said it would be ready to resort to nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempted to cut off the territory, which is on the Baltic Sea sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.

NATO's Reaction to Russian Statements

NATO reacted with "a bit of calm", Rutte said. "Basically what we said is: 'Hey, listen, we are defensive alliance and stop the nuclear threat'," he said at an event held by Euronews in Brussels.

Potential Scenarios and U.S. Involvement

If Russia wanted to act against Finland, one of the Baltic nations, Poland or any other NATO country, it would be preceded by a military build-up, Rutte added. He underlined the United States would stay involved in defending Europe by conventional and nuclear means.

NATO's Ongoing Support for Ukraine

Meanwhile NATO would continue what it was doing, namely supporting Ukraine and investing in its defence, he said.

Prospects for Peace Negotiations

He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no interest in negotiating to end the war in Ukraine.

Rutte's Statement on Negotiations

"It takes two to tango," he said. "So far, it doesn't seem that Vladimir Putin is willing to tango when it comes to a peace deal."

(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Lili Bayer and Andrew Gray, editing by Inti Landauro and Alex Richardson)