NATO leader warns Russia to expect a 'devastating' response if it ever attacks Poland

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned Russia on Wednesday that the alliance would always stand by Poland or any other member and that its response to an attack would be "devastating."

Rutte spoke during a visit to Warsaw, the Polish capital, in brief comments made alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, foreign media write, according to the Telegraph.

Tusk said it was important to prepare for any outcome of talks between Russia and the United States aimed at ending the three-year war in Ukraine.

NATO members along the eastern flank of the 32-member alliance, particularly Poland and the Baltic states, are extremely concerned that the talks could end with a solution that is favorable to Russia.

They fear that such an outcome would allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to rebuild his country's forces and threaten other countries in the region in the coming years.

Rutte said that neither Putin nor anyone else should assume they can get away with something like this.

"If anyone miscalculated and thought they could get away with an attack on Poland or any other ally, they would face the full force of this fierce alliance. Our response will be devastating. This should be very clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and anyone else who wants to attack us," Rutte continued.

Rutte's warning comes as the return of President Donald Trump has prompted Europe to try to wean itself off its security dependence on the US, with European countries planning ambitious new investments in arms.

Trump said during a recent meeting with Rutte at the White House that he does not believe a peace solution for Ukraine would lead to Russia attacking other countries.

Rutte has in the past warned that Russia could be able to launch an attack on European soil again by the end of the decade.

"Let's not forget that Russia is and remains the most important and darkest threat to our alliance. Let's not forget that Russia is moving into a wartime economy and this will have a major impact on their capacity and ability to build up their armed forces," Rutte said on Wednesday. /Telegraph/