Subscribe here: [ Ссылка ] NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed concern about the idea of conducting peace negotiations in the nearly three-year-long Russia-Ukraine war without Russian President Vladimir Putin “at the table,” calling the move “risky.”
“It is crucial that whenever there is a deal that it is a good deal, with all the elements in there,” Rutte said during a discussion Wednesday at Carnegie Europe think tank in Brussels.
“I think these were very good considerations, but again, for me to start to discuss this, we start a sort of debate amongst ourselves, within the alliance, with our European partners, without having Putin at the table, and that is risky,” he added.
Rutte noted that Ukraine should initiate talks with the Kremlin but must do so in a position of “strength.”
The NATO leader’s comments echoed his remarks from earlier this month, when he encouraged members of the alliance to send more arms to soldiers in Ukraine who may be wavering on the battlefield.
“Make sure that Ukraine has what it needs to get to a position of strength when those peace talks start, when the Ukrainian government has decided they are ready to do so,” Rutte said ahead of a foreign ministers conference.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed NATO’s support amid the war, which has caused many fatalities.
“If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control,” he told Sky News.
Rutte also signaled optimism that peaceful discussions regarding Russian-occupied territories could be settled in the future.
“Ukraine is ready for this negotiation with members of [the] alliance,” Serhii Kuzan, co-founder and chair of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center who has served as an adviser to the government in Kyiv, told The Hill in previous comments.
“Our main task is to become stronger together and not to let Russia become stronger,” he added.
NATO chief Mark Rutte warns that Vladimir Putin is preparing for a prolonged confrontation with Europe, even beyond the war in Ukraine. Rutte emphasizes the need for Europe to remain united and vigilant against Russia's long-term ambitions. Watch for key insights on NATO's stance and future strategy!
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “wipe Ukraine off the map” and could come after other parts of Europe next, as he urged Europeans to press their governments to ramp up defense spending.
“It is time to shift to a wartime mindset,” Rutte told security experts and analysts at the Carnegie Europe think-tank in Brussels. He said people should gird themselves for the prospect that Russia might try to use “swarms of drones” in Europe as it has to deadly effect in Ukraine.
Putin “is trying to crush our freedom and way of life,” Rutte said. The former Dutch prime minister listed Russia’s attacks on Georgia in 2008, the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and the all-out invasion launched almost three years ago.
“How many more wake-up calls do we need? We should be profoundly concerned. I know I am,” he said. “Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation. With Ukraine, and with us.”
Rutte’s inaugural speech came just over two months after he took office as NATO’s top civilian official. He has since toured the capitals of the 32 allies, including a visit to NATO’s most important member, the United States to meet with President-elect Donald Trump.
NATO has been a staunch backer of Ukraine and has helped most of its members funnel weapons, ammunition and other support into the country. But Trump’s return, and pledge to end the war quickly, has fueled concern that an unfavorable truce might be forced on Ukraine.
Rutte said that “a bad deal means Putin coming out on top, and that will have worldwide ramifications, not only on Europe and Ukraine.” He insisted that Ukraine must be involved in any peace talks.
Stay connected with us!
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
#eudebates the unique initiative aiming to promote debate, dialogue, knowledge, participation and communication among citizens. #NorthKorea #Ukraine #Russia #DroneAttacks #Kyiv #AirDefense #MilitaryNews #WarUpdate #WorldWar3 #WarNews #war #Zelensky #sanctions #Trump #trump2024 #TRUMPnews #POTUS #USA #USarmy #donaldtrump #uselection #uselections2024 #CIA #hybridattack #hybridwarfare #spy #sabotage #defence #EuropeanUnion #agents #intelligence #spies #Niinisto #vonderLeyen #espionage #Italy #Meloni #GiorgiaMeloni #ItalianArmy #Giorgia_Meloni #NATO #Rutte #InternationalRelations #InternationalNews #inflation #Energy #Orban
