NATO chief Rutte: peace talks on Ukraine are inevitable!

NATO chief Rutte: peace talks on Ukraine are inevitable!

What happens next in the Ukraine conflict? This question concerns not only the people in Ukraine, but also the international actors who are trying to find a solution. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has commented on future negotiations and emphasized that it is inevitable to also bring up the Ukrainian territories controlled by Russia. He made clear that Russia still administers part of Ukrainian territory and that questions will arise about territorial claims and security guarantees after a ceasefire. Rutte underlined Ukraine's sovereignty and the country's right to determine its own geopolitical future. His distinction between “de facto” and “de jure” recognition in territorial issues is interesting, which further complicates the discussion about the status of the occupied territories: A possible agreement could therefore recognize that Russia controls certain areas without legally legitimizing this control. The NATO Secretary General refers to the Western attitude to the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states as an example of such pragmatism, as reported by nordkurier.de.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to negotiate a possible peace solution to the Ukraine conflict. Rutte, who is currently in the US holding talks with key ministers, sees this meeting as a measure to test Putin's seriousness about ending the war. Trump has previously signaled progress in the negotiations, but many challenges remain. zdfheute.de reports that the USA could probably put forward a proposal that meets Russian demands, possibly even recognizing the annexation of Crimea - a scenario that is not without fury in Kiev.

The role of the USA and Ukraine

Ukraine itself is currently under massive pressure, and President Volodymyr Zelensky has not received an invitation to the talks in Alaska. This is fueling fears that decisions about Ukraine could be made without their say. Zelensky has already indicated that he will rule out a territory swap proposed by Trump. These concerns underpin Rutte's statements, who emphasize that Ukraine is abiding by the rules of the game and does not have to make any disadvantageous compromises.

The Ukrainian president had previously presented a comprehensive ten-point peace plan, which includes, among other things, nuclear security, food and energy security and the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity. These demands are part of the basic conditions under which Ukraine is prepared to make peace, as documented by bpb.de. In addition, Zelensky is calling for the complete return of all Ukrainian territories that have been under Russian control since 1991, which represents a major challenge in the current situation.

The path to a peaceful conclusion

Another aspect that will shape discussions about peace is NATO's position towards Russia. In his talks, Rutte also discussed the long-term threat that Russia poses to NATO with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Despite this threat, there is agreement among NATO countries on the need for a stable security architecture in the midst of these turbulent times. He also expressed doubts about whether Putin is actually interested in a serious peace process.

Given the tragic events in Kiev, where at least twelve people were recently killed in night attacks, the urgent need for a peaceful solution is clear. At the same time, Rutte emphasized the US's full commitment to NATO and made it clear that the US would not withdraw from its commitments despite internal criticism of burden sharing. The further negotiations on Ukraine are caught in an area of ​​tension between geopolitical interests and humanitarian needs.