NATO’s top diplomat, Mark Rutte, has suggested that Ukraine should wait until Western allies can provide enough military aid before engaging in peace talks with Russia. Rutte emphasized the importance of ensuring Ukraine has what it needs to achieve a stronger negotiating position on the battlefield.
The US President-elect Donald Trump vows to secure a quick cease-fire, which Ukrainian officials fear would favor Russia. Rutte urged NATO members to increase shipments of weapons, ammunition, and air defenses before discussing peace talks.
Ukraine’s public stance on a potential peace deal has recently shifted, with President Volodymyr Zelensky signaling willingness to cede territory in exchange for NATO membership. However, NATO membership remains unlikely during the ongoing war.
Rutte stated that Ukraine’s army lacks strength to liberate occupied territories and urged more military aid. The alliance has declared Ukraine’s eventual membership as “irreversible.”
Ukraine’s foreign ministry pointed to a 1994 treaty that guarantees peace and territorial sovereignty in exchange for giving up nuclear arsenal, citing Russia’s violation of the agreement.
Senior NATO officials believe Putin is uninterested in negotiating peace unless it benefits him. The war has escalated recently, with both sides launching attacks and counter-attacks.
Ukraine is receiving over half of its military aid from the US, which has sent more than $61 billion in weapons and equipment since February 2022.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/03/world/europe/nato-ukraine-trump-peace-talks.html