Mark Rutte announces that NATO will step up its support for Ukraine, despite the acts of sabotage attributed to Russia

Hybrid attacks attributed to Russia will not weaken NATO’s unity or the Alliance’s support for Ukraine, Secretary General Mark Rutte said Tuesday in Brussels. The message was delivered after Estonia accused Russian intelligence services of an act of sabotage carried out in August in Tallinn.

Rutte said Russia is continuing its campaign of hostile actions against NATO states, seeking to spread fear and division and to halt aid to Ukraine. “We will do more for Ukraine, not less,” the Alliance’s secretary general said.

Estonia attributed to Russia the fire that broke out in August at the headquarters of a group specializing in ground drones. Rutte welcomed the Estonian authorities’ communication, stressing that information-sharing among allies is essential for establishing responsibility and understanding the situation.

The NATO chief said the Alliance has all response options at its disposal, some public and others undisclosed. He urged citizens not to give in to fear and insisted that Russia will not succeed in undermining solidarity among member states.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius expressed the same position, saying Europeans must not be intimidated by arson attacks, sabotage and other forms of hybrid attack.