NATO chief says Russia must act faster to end war in Ukraine, calls for more engagement

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has emphasized that Russia must take more decisive action to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, noting that the responsibility to end the conflict now clearly lies with Moscow.

In an interview with Margaret Brennan, Rutte shared his impression that Russia is not moving quickly enough to resolve the ongoing war, a sentiment he noted was echoed by US officials, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"The ball clearly is in the court of the Russians," Rutte stated. "They are not moving fast enough, is my impression — including the impression I'm getting from my American interlocutors, that Russia really has to do more to bring this war to an end." His remarks highlight NATO's growing frustration with Russia’s lack of urgency in engaging with peace efforts, despite the ongoing devastation of the conflict that has left hundreds of thousands of casualties and caused widespread destruction across Ukraine.

Rutte went on to praise the United States for its consistent efforts to push for an end to the war, noting that the US and NATO allies are united in their approach to countering Russian aggression. "We are working in tandem to secure an end to the war in Ukraine," he said. The NATO chief expressed his approval of the White House's focus on breaking the "deadlock" in Ukraine and acknowledged the concerted diplomatic efforts to bring peace to the region.

He specifically lauded the US administration's step-by-step approach to ending the war, stating, "I spoke with Marco Rubio, I'm in regular contact with the other members of the American administration. I think you guys are really trying, step-by-step, to get to a situation where this war can end." However, Rutte questioned Russia's commitment to the peace process, further criticizing Moscow's lack of responsiveness.

"Russians also have to dance the tango, and at this moment they don't seem to do so," he remarked, drawing a metaphor to suggest that both sides must engage meaningfully for progress to be made. In contrast, Rutte pointed out that Ukraine is "really close to the American position," indicating that Kyiv is more aligned with the West’s approach to resolving the conflict.

The US has proposed a full 30-day ceasefire, but Russia has yet to agree to the terms, citing unresolved issues. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, attending a NATO conference in Brussels, remarked that soon they would know if Russia is serious about pursuing peace or using delay tactics. "Now we've reached the stage where we need to make progress," he stated.

Rutte also credited US President Donald Trump for giving momentum to the peace process, stating that "until January this year, nothing happened when it came to bringing this war to an end." Currently, discussions are ongoing between the US and Russia regarding a potential partial ceasefire, with both sides attempting to resolve key issues before any agreement can be finalized.

By Vafa Guliyeva