The former Russian president has mocked Mark Rutte over his claim that China might ask Russia to attack the bloc's European territory

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has mocked NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for suggesting that Beijing might ask Moscow to attack NATO territory in Europe as a diversion if China decides to make a move on Taiwan.

Rutte, speaking to the New York Times on Saturday, said Chinese President Xi Jinping may tell his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin: "I'm going to do this, and I need you to keep them busy in Europe by attacking NATO territory." He also urged stronger NATO defenses, warning that "if we don't, we'll have to learn Russian." 

"SG Rutte has clearly gorged on too many of the magic mushrooms beloved by the Dutch," Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said on X on Saturday. "He sees collusion between China & Russia over Taiwan, and then a Russian attack on Europe. But he's right about one thing: he should learn Russian. It might come in handy in a Siberian camp," Medvedev joked, hinting at the harsh conditions at the region's remote prison camps.

Beijing, which considers Taiwan its own territory under its One China policy, has repeatedly demanded that the US and its allies stop interfering in China's internal affairs. Washington, however, continues to supply weapons to Taiwan.

Russia supports the Chinese position, condemning Western arms sales and diplomatic visits to the island. Moscow has also repeatedly dismissed claims that it plans to attack NATO, calling such statements baseless and part of Western scaremongering.

The Kremlin has maintained that "these are simply attempts to create an artificial external enemy in order to justify such a militaristic line to militarize Europe." Russian officials have also argued that European NATO countries are using the supposed Russia threat to deflect from their own domestic problems. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the "old horror story about the Russian bear" an easy excuse in light of economic stagnation and falling standards of living in Europe.

At its recent summit, NATO members discussed increasing defense spending targets to 5% of GDP, though no formal agreement was reached. Some European nations expressed concern that such a level would be a heavy financial burden, potentially straining domestic budgets and public support for defense policies.