NATO chief anticipates clarity on European security guarantees for Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that he anticipates clarity on European security guarantees for Ukraine following a critical summit of Kyiv’s allies scheduled for September 4, or shortly thereafter.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Estonian President Alar Karis at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Rutte expressed optimism about defining a collective approach to bolster Ukraine’s post-war security, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“I expect tomorrow, or soon after tomorrow, to have clarity on what collectively we can deliver,” Rutte stated, emphasizing the need for intensified engagement with the United States to determine their role in the proposed security framework. “That means that we can engage even more intensely, also with the American side, to see what they want to deliver in terms of their participation in security guarantees.”

The summit, primarily virtual, will be co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It will convene leaders from a “coalition of the willing,” predominantly European allies, who have been actively developing security guarantees aimed at deterring future Russian aggression against Ukraine, whether through a ceasefire or a permanent peace agreement.

Western officials have underscored that sustained robust support for Ukraine’s armed forces will be the cornerstone of these guarantees. Additionally, the measures are expected to encompass the deployment of an international force to provide reassurance to Kyiv. However, European leaders have stressed that such a force would only be viable with substantial US backing. While US President Donald Trump pledged support last month, Washington has yet to clarify the extent of its commitment.

Addressing concerns from eastern European NATO members, Rutte sought to alleviate fears that resources allocated to Ukraine’s security would undermine the alliance’s defenses along its eastern flank. “We have to prevent spreading our resources too thinly, and this means that we always have to look at what the impact will be on the NATO (defence) plans,” he affirmed, reinforcing NATO’s commitment to maintaining a robust defense posture against potential Russian threats.

By Vafa Guliyeva