NATO’S Rutte says "ball is in Putin’s court" on Ukraine peace talks

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated that in peace efforts regarding Ukraine, the ball is clearly in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s court, and he must play it.

Speaking alongside Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Rutte urged Putin to engage seriously in peace negotiations, saying Moscow has so far failed to do so, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Guardian.

Rutte said the responsibility for advancing negotiations lies with the Kremlin.

“He is not doing that yet. Let’s see what happens. And the Ukrainians, in the meantime, are maintaining the fight, doing well on the frontline, but obviously they did not ask for this, and many people have been killed because of Putin in Ukraine,” he added.

Nawrocki, speaking ahead of Rutte, described continued support for Ukraine as a strategic priority for the Bucharest Nine (B9) group and welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's participation in the meeting.

The Polish leader repeatedly blamed Putin for the war and called for a “long-term, just peace settlement.”

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov