NATO chief Mark Rutte has said Ukraine must be involved in any peace talks aimed at stopping Russia’s invasion of its territory after US President Donald Trump held talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on starting negotiations.
“Of course, this is crucial — (when) we talk about Ukraine, that Ukraine is closely involved in everything happening about Ukraine,” Rutte told journalists as alliance defense ministers gathered for a Brussels meeting to discuss the conflict.
Rutte said it was vital that any “peace deal is enduring, that Putin knows that this is the end, that he can never again try to capture a piece of Ukraine.”
Rutte’s remarks were echoed by UK Defense Secretary John Healey, who told reporters: “There can be no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine. And Ukraine’s voice must be at the heart of any talks.”
Their comments come amid fears on the part of many observers that Washington may have offered concessions to Moscow that go against Ukraine’s interests as a sovereign state.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has called for European states to be also involved in peace talks.
Europe “will have to live directly” with the consequences of any peace deal, so “it goes without saying that we must be part of the negotiations,” he said.
