(VOVWORLD) - NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that NATO is not part of the ongoing negotiations aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. These talks are being promoted by the United States, Ukraine, and Russia, Rutte told the press in Brussels on Friday.
Rutte affirmed that Ukraine’s path to NATO membership is irreversible, but NATO membership will not be part of any peace agreement with Russia.
On the possibility of NATO joining a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, the NATO chief said that when they get to a peace deal or a ceasefire, they need to look what is the best way to support Ukraine. Then the UK and France may lead a coalition of willing countries to provide security guarantees for Ukraine. However, he stressed that it’s not the right time to discuss this matter and that NATO may not be part of such a peacekeeping mission.
Rutte added that NATO allies and many other countries still have substantial resources available to support Kyiv to ensure that Ukraine is in a strong position in negotiations.