Mark Rutte called on European countries to increase their defense spending. Michael Kappeler/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned Thursday that members of the alliance could be “ Russia’s next target,” calling for a rapid rise in defense spending to prevent a war similar to those seen by past generations.

Rutte’s comments, in a speech at the Munich Security Conference in Berlin, came as European leaders discussed a peace proposal designed to end Russia’s years-long war in Ukraine against a backdrop of growing US pressure.

“We need to be ready because conflicts… are no longer fought at arm’s length, conflict is at our door,” he said.

“Russia has brought war back to Europe and we must be prepared for the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparent

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