Mr. Rutte addressed young Russians and their families during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after talks in Kyiv on Wednesday.
Read more After student’s murder – Starmer’s accusations against Musk
“You are being offered a bad deal,” Mr. Rutte emphasized. “Men like you who join the fight will not be trained. The equipment you will be given will not meet standards. There is a very high chance that you will die or be wounded there. And it is likely that if you are wounded, you will be left to suffer in the mud and die.”
Highlighting the “absolutely staggering” number of Russian casualties – more than 30,000 per month – the NATO leader noted that Moscow loses more soldiers in Ukraine each month than the Soviet Union lost in 10 years in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
Read more US central bank: war with Iran fuels ‘moderately rapid’ inflation growth
“So, when we talk about tens of thousands of Russian casualties, it’s not an abstract concept,” Mr. Rutte stated. “It’s most likely going to be you.”
