NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized on Thursday that any ceasefire or peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine must be enduring.
“I commend of course the American efforts to break the deadlock, that is important. We have to make sure that whenever a ceasefire or a peace deal is reached that it is enduring, that it is lasting,” Rutte stated.
He underscored that the war’s outcome has global implications, asserting that the conflict extends beyond Ukraine and Russia. According to Rutte, the war is a “global conflict,” with Russia aligning itself with China, North Korea, and Iran to achieve its objectives.
Rutte also highlighted the broader geopolitical stakes, warning that the result of this war will affect security and stability in various regions, including the Indo-Pacific.
“Ultimately there is an audience of one which will be judging the outcome of this war and that is the first secretary of the Communist Party of China, Mister Xi Jinping,” he said.
“And he will be watching who comes out on top. Is it Russia or the West? And that will also inform him in his next steps in the Indo-Pacific, I have no doubt.”
Echoing these concerns, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for a “long-lasting, comprehensive peace.”
“Ukraine has shown its readiness to achieve peace. We accepted the US proposal for a full interim 30-day ceasefire without any conditions. This proposal is still on the table. But we can see that instead of accepting it, Putin talks about demands and conditions,” said Sybiha.
He urged Russia to take peace negotiations seriously, stressing the need for increased international pressure to push Moscow toward an agreement.
“Now is the time for diplomacy, but also pressure and deterrence. While the media attention is on global trade wars, we must not forget, there is a real full-scale war going on in Europe. Russia remains an existential threat to Europe,” he warned.
These remarks were made as NATO foreign ministers, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, gathered in Brussels to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
