NATO chief rules out troops in Ukraine to avoid direct confrontation with Russia

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated on November 27 that Ukraine is not yet in a strong enough position to begin negotiating an end to the war with Russia.

In an interview with Fox News’s Brian Kilmeade, Rutte underscored the need for a favourable outcome for Ukraine, arguing that it would set an important precedent for other nations with ambitions similar to Russia’s, per Caliber.Az.

During the discussion, Rutte positioned himself as aligned with President-elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine war even before taking office. Rutte revealed that he had spoken with Trump last Friday and commended him for urging NATO to increase defence spending, stating, “Trump is right” to do so.

When asked whether he was ready to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table — or if he expected Trump to take on that role — Rutte avoided a direct answer, instead emphasizing that such efforts would require a collective approach once Ukraine is better prepared. “We will be able to get Putin to the table because he will sense that, ultimately, it is in his interest not to continue the fight,” Rutte explained.

He dismissed the notion of deploying NATO troops to the conflict zone, citing concerns about escalating tensions with Russia and its allies. “You do not want to get in a direct confrontation with allies being a party to the conflict. I don’t think that is wise,” Rutte said.

Instead, he stressed the importance of arming Ukraine to ensure its strength when the time comes for negotiations. “What you need to do is to make sure that the Ukrainians can take this fight forward, can make sure that they get in a position of strength whenever it gets to talks, and that means that we have to supply them with the weapons they need to do that, to get in a position of strength, whenever the talk starts,” he added.

Rutte also highlighted the broader implications of the conflict, cautioning against concessions to nations like Iran, China, North Korea, and Russia. “But then clearly, we have to make sure that the deal being struck is a good deal, and that we do not give in to Iran, China, North Korea, and Russia,” he said. “It is really crucial for the future of all of us to make sure that that doesn’t happen.”

By Tamilla Hasanova