NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized on Thursday that any ceasefire or peace agreement in Ukraine must be permanent to ensure long-term stability.
“I commend of course the American efforts to break the deadlock, that is important. We have to make sure that whenever a ceasefire or a peace deal is reached that it is enduring, that it is lasting,” Rutte stated.
Rutte stressed that the outcome of the war in Ukraine extends beyond the two countries involved, calling it a “global conflict.” He pointed out that Russia is working closely with its allies—China, North Korea, and Iran—to advance its strategic goals.
He also highlighted that the war’s outcome will have far-reaching consequences, particularly for global security, including in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Ultimately there is an audience of one which will be judging the outcome of this war and that is the first secretary of the Communist Party of China, Mister Xi Jinping,” Rutte said.
“And he will be watching who comes out on top. Is it Russia or the West? And that will also inform him in his next steps in the Indo-Pacific, I have no doubt.”
His remarks were echoed by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who emphasized the need for a “long-lasting, comprehensive peace.”
“Ukraine has shown its readiness to achieve peace. We accepted the US proposal for a full interim 30-day ceasefire without any conditions. This proposal is still on the table. But we can see that instead of accepting it, Putin talks about demands and conditions,” Sybiha said.
“Russia must get serious about peace,” he added, urging the international community to increase pressure on Moscow to negotiate a settlement.
“Now is the time for diplomacy, but also pressure and deterrence. While the media attention is on global trade wars, we must not forget, there is a real full-scale war going on in Europe. Russia remains an existential threat to Europe,” warned Sybiha.
The statements came as NATO foreign ministers, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, convened in Brussels to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
