ISTANBUL

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Friday slammed NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s warning that Russia could be in a position to attack the alliance within five years, calling it “reckless.”

"Mark Rutte made several reckless statements, claiming that 'we' are Russia’s next target, that Russia could be ready to attack NATO within five years, and that Ukraine’s security is our security," Szijjarto said through US social media company X.

He said that anyone still doubting whether "common sense has completely disappeared" in Brussels should have been convinced by Rutte's statements.

"As a NATO member, Hungary firmly rejects these claims. The security of European countries is guaranteed not by Ukraine, but by NATO itself. Ukraine is fighting for its own security, not for ours," Szijjarto stressed.

He also noted that Rutte's remarks are a "clear sign" that Brussels lined up against US President Donald Trump's peace efforts, saying that the secretary general "effectively stabbed peace negotiations in the back," as discussions continue over a US-backed peace plan between Ukraine and Moscow.

"Such provocative statements are irresponsible and dangerous. We call on Mark Rutte to stop fueling war tensions immediately!" Szijjarto added.

Rutte on Thursday warned that Russia could be in a position to attack NATO within five years, urging allies to boost defense spending and strengthen the alliance's deterrence.

"We need to be crystal clear about the threat. We are Russia's next target," Rutte said during his keynote speech at a Munich Security Conference event in Berlin.

"NATO's own defenses can hold for now. But with its economy dedicated to war, Russia could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that Ukraine is advancing parallel negotiation tracks with partners in Europe and the US, covering security guarantees, economic recovery, and ongoing diplomatic coordination to bring the war to an end.