Rutte says Russia crawling forward “like garden snail” in Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said noticeable changes have taken place in the internal “mood” of the alliance, emphasising that European members are increasingly taking responsibility for their own defence.

He made the remarks during a meeting of ministers in Brussels held ahead of the Munich Security Conference, according to BILD.

Rutte noted that longstanding US criticism over insufficient European defence spending is beginning to fade.

“We have heard complaints from the United States for years, even decades, that Europe was not spending enough on defence. After the summit in The Hague, this has changed. <...> Europe is truly becoming stronger and taking on greater responsibility for leadership within NATO,” he said.

According to the NATO chief, allied countries are also demonstrating greater unity and improved coordination in their positions.

Addressing the war in Ukraine, Rutte pointed to what he described as “shocking losses” suffered by Russian forces, arguing that Moscow’s battlefield progress remains limited.

“Russia wants us to see it as a mighty bear. But one could say it is advancing in Ukraine at the speed of a garden snail. So let us not fall for Russian propaganda,” he added.

Separate assessments cited by Bloomberg on February 11, referring to Western officials familiar with the estimates, indicate that Russia’s frontline losses in January exceeded its ability to replenish forces by roughly 9,000 troops. The evaluation, which could not be independently verified, is seen as supporting Kyiv’s strategy of increasing the military cost of the war for Moscow.

Despite sustaining heavy casualties, Russian forces have achieved little significant territorial progress, the officials said. Approximately 35,000 Russian soldiers were reportedly killed in December 2025 — nearly double NATO’s average monthly estimate for the year.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian losses had reached a record level of about 35,000 killed per month, compared with roughly 14,000 monthly the previous year. He added that although Russia mobilises between 40,000 and 43,000 personnel each month, total losses — including those killed, wounded and deserters — reach up to 45,000 troops.