NATO accepts peace prize Rutte's full address

Oct 1

Zinkann reads NATO's dated 2026 award citation and Frohloff introduces Rutte's complete acceptance address. Rutte accepts for NATO's civilian and military personnel and congratulates socioMovens. He recalls Nieuwpoort, cavalry and the captured-horse trophy as an introduction to strength, speed and endurance. He estimates Russian monthly killed and seriously wounded at over 40,000, attributes European hybrid attacks to Russia and urges stronger defence and increased Ukraine support. His wider threat assessment includes terrorism and China, North Korea and Iran. He discusses the 5%-of-GDP goal, credits Merz's 2025 backing at The Hague, cites additional European and Canadian spending and Germany's planned annual defence investment by 2029, and qualifies that money alone is insufficient. He urges faster industrial production and continuing supplies to Ukraine, sustained investment and teamwork, then reaffirms collective defence and unwavering support. The German interpreted track gives less precise financial periods and currencies than the English original and describes the historical opponent as a German duke; its wording is preserved without importing the English original's missing details.

At his October 1 Westphalia-prize acceptance speech in Münster, Rutte estimates Russian losses at over 40,000 killed or seriously wounded each month, says Putin is intensifying the war and accuses Russia of hybrid attacks across Europe. He cites an alleged explosive-drone attempt at Leipzig Airport and urges allies to remain calm, strengthen defence and support Ukraine even more in response to intimidation. He endorses Merz's continued-support remarks and closes by calling Ukraine's security the allies' security and their support unwavering. The estimates and attack attribution are Rutte's assertions; no new arms delivery or negotiated settlement is announced.