Vladimir Putin sends NATO chief to read recently released US document: 'You have to be careful'

Speaking on Friday at his annual marathon press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte an ironic message, urging him to read the new document outlining the US national security strategy.

“The new security strategy [a SUA]national security, does not include Russia as an enemy, as a target. However, the Secretary General of NATO is preparing for war with us. what is this Can you even read?” Putin said, quoted by TASS.

“How can you, NATO, target a war with Russia if the main NATO country does not consider us an adversary or an enemy? I just don't know, the level of professional training even in this position is insufficient. You have to be attentive to your responsibilities and keep an eye on your surroundings,” he continued.

“This is true not only for the Secretary General, but also for many other Western leaders,” the Kremlin leader stressed.

Putin's comments come after Rutte recently warned again that NATO states must prepare for the danger of a war of aggression initiated by Russia.

Rutte's comments that bothered Putin

“We are Russia's next target. I'm afraid too many are complacent and complacent. Too many don't feel the urgency. And too many think time is on our side. It's not. The time for action is now,” Rutte said in a speech in Berlin last Thursday.

“The conflict is at our doorstep. Russia has brought war back to Europe. And we must be prepared,” he added.

Rutte said Russia could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years at most.

Rutte's speech in Berlin came as German General Alexander Sollfrank warned last month that Russia has the ability to launch a limited attack on NATO territory at any time, but a decision to do so would depend on the firmness shown by Western allies.

“If we look at Russia's current capabilities and combat power, it could launch a small-scale attack on NATO territory as early as tomorrow,” Lt. Gen. Alexander Sollfrank told Reuters.

“Small, quick, regionally limited, nothing major — Russia is too involved in Ukraine for anything bigger,” he explained.

Sollfrank, who heads Germany's Joint Operations Command and coordinates defense planning, also reiterated Berlin's warnings that Russia could prepare a large-scale attack on the alliance as early as 2029 if Moscow's armaments efforts continue.

Warnings to this effect were previously issued by the German Foreign Intelligence Service and by General Carsten Breuer, the head of the German army, among others.