NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the North Atlantic Alliance will not take a direct part in the negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
«As NATO, we do not take part in these negotiations. This is really a dialogue between the USA, Ukraine and the Russians. I am grateful to the United States for the initiative — they have moved this process from a standstill. Negotiations continue, although not too quickly. The reason is not in Ukraine. The Russians are dragging it out. And now the ball is certainly on the Russian side.» Rutte said in an interview NV.
He emphasized that Ukraine’s accession to NATO was never a condition or part of a possible peaceful settlement or cessation of hostilities.
At the same time, the Secretary General emphasized that Ukraine’s European course, in particular its desire for membership in the Alliance, is irreversible.
«These are different planes: a peace agreement is one thing, a strategic perspective is another. At the summit in Washington, we noted that Ukraine’s path to NATO is irreversible. It is difficult to say exactly when this will happen. But the direction is determined.» he concluded.
Also, answering NV’s question about the probability of the end of the war this year, Rutte noted that he does not undertake to make predictions, but does not lose hope:
«I can’t predict anything. But I would like the war to end tomorrow. And it is possible — it could end literally tomorrow, if the Russians stop their aggression and leave. This is the easiest option. Although, unfortunately, unlikely. Therefore, I do not predict whether it will be completed this year.»
