Addressing the Dutch Parliament, I said: Russia is stronger than any of us alone, but weaker than all of us together. Putin thinks in terms of potential—his own, and of those he sees as targets. If Europe’s combined strength leaves him no room for aggression, there will be none. 
Every day in Ukraine begins the same way with updates on the consequences of Russian strikes. These attacks cannot be explained by anything rational or humane.
Last night, nine Russian-Iranian “shahed” drones hit an ordinary village in Sumy region. 7 houses were completely destroyed, 22 badly damaged. 3 children were pulled from under the rubble. 6 people were injured. 3 were killed, including a child. That attack had no military sense.
Right now, in Dnipro, people are receiving help after a Russian ballistic missile strike. 16 people killed. Over 100 injured. Homes were affected, schools were damaged, and people were hurt, even a passenger train was hit as it was simply following its route – the missile exploded right next to it.
One way or another, life itself is the main target of these attacks – each one showing the true nature of Putin’s war. He did the same in Chechnya. In Syria. And now in Ukraine. His propagandists openly threaten other nations.
Our intelligence, yours, and Europe’s believe Russia is planning hostile, potentially destructive operations on NATO territory. We must speak honestly about what kind of operations these are, and what kind of hatred they show.
Putin destroys lives, that’s how he defines control. If he can kill people, destroy homes, blackmail others, he believes he has power. To Russia, power means being able to kill or intimidate – without that, they think that they have nothing.
That’s why they turn everything into a weapon: from old cultural ties of Russia or the Soviet Union, to the energy resources they export today. For decades, Russia has built networks in other countries to prepare for sabotage and destabilization.
Moscow never truly respects any alliance and always betrays its so-called “partners”, yet still builds ties with bloody regimes. With such “friends”, Russia is simply improving its ability to kill. That’s why solidarity in defense is essential, so no one has to face them alone.
This is not just about defending Ukraine, it’s about more. Russia has no right to kill our people. No right to kill anyone in European cities, which they have already done before. No right to threaten critical infrastructure in the Baltic, the North Sea, the Arctic, or any sea.
Russia has no right to invest in terror or destruction in any country. And especially no right to even threaten the transfer of nuclear weapons to any regime, including the regime in Tehran or anyone else trying to back up madness with the power of nuclear explosions.
Understanding what you do have the right to begins with knowing what you don’t. That’s where the borders of others’ security and freedom begin. Many nations have learned this. Russia still needs to. Russia must understand that rules exist.
Putin pretends not to understand what rules shape the modern world. So here, in The Hague, want to say this very clearly – for Putin:
There is a rule – do not kill. There is a rule – do not act like a beast toward people. There is a rule – do not burn down cities and villages. There is also a rule – do not justify or sponsor terror. There is a rule – do not steal children. And if you break such rules, there must be responsibility.
There is a rule – do not kill. There is a rule – do not act like a beast toward people. There is a rule – do not burn down cities and villages. There is also a rule – do not justify or sponsor terror. There is a rule – do not steal children. And if you break such rules, there must be responsibility.
It may be hard for Russia to understand, but these are the rules that form everything: from the UN Charter and international law to our shared European way of life. A life built after World War II: the safest, most decent life Europe has known in centuries. We must protect it.
Since the start of the full-scale war, Russia has used 28,743 “shahed” drones. In June alone — 2,736. They couldn’t have done this without the regime in Iran. And we couldn’t have shot most of these drones down without your solidarity and support of our partners.
To truly end this war and build lasting peace, we must act on two directions. Maximum isolation of Russia: political isolation, full sanctions, and cutting off every scheme and cooperation that helps them survive and keep fighting.
We need a strong 18th EU sanctions package, painful sanctions on Russian oil. There’s debate about options for a price cap on Russian oil, but what matters is that it actually works. Every drop in Russia’s revenue helps brings peace closer. A $30 cap/ barrel is what really hurts.
The world must get there, not just to stop Russia’s war against us, but to prevent future military operations it might launch against Europe and the Alliance. War plans must become deadly expensive for Russia. Need to block their tanker fleet. Cut them off from global banking.
The second direction: stability in defense support. I urge you to back all long-term programs of support and cooperation with Ukraine. Russia must see that Ukraine will not be left alone, and that Europe will not back down.
I thank the Netherlands for the new and important defense package, especially support for Ukraine’s own weapons production. It’s vital to support the need for other European countries to raise their defense spending.
If Russia feels that we strike back – hard and painfully – then peace will become the most popular topic in Moscow. And we will get there. Together.
Knowing how Putin thinks, how Russia wages war, and acting in ways that truly limit them – we’ll bring peace closer. Let’s get this job done. Let this war be a warning – to prevent a much bigger one. Russia must be forced into peace.
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