NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte underlined on Friday at a press conference that Russian President Vladimir Putin is resorting to "an increasingly irresponsible rhetoric."

Moscow continues to be the "most significant and direct threat" to the security of the alliance, Rutte noted. While Russia might be "loud," NATO is "strong," he remarked.

He stressed that due to growing uncertainties in the world, it is crucial for the organization to "modernize" its capabilities. The NATO chief underlined that "Ukraine's fight is our fight."