NATO will not have Putin get his way in Ukraine: Mark Rutte

On Wednesday, October 16, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated during a briefing with Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa that the Alliance’s strategy involves military assistance to Ukraine, and if at some point Kyiv begins negotiations with Russia to end the war, it will do so from a position of strength.

Rutte emphasised that NATO is providing military assistance to Ukraine and will not allow Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to achieve his goals in Ukraine.

“Putin will not get his way, and to make sure that if ever one day, Zelenskyy and his team will decide to discuss with Russia how to end this, that he will do this from a position of strength, from a position of strength, so that he can dominate those talks,” Mark Rutte said.

On 16 October, President Zelensky also presented to the Ukrainian parliament the contents of his “victory plan,” which consists of five elements and is effectively a “plan to force Russia to peace.”

According to the first point of the “victory plan,” Ukraine should receive an invitation to NATO right away, which requires the determination of its partners.

According to Zelensky, for decades Russia has exploited geopolitical uncertainty in Europe and the fact that Ukraine is not a member of NATO. This is precisely what tempted Russia to encroach on Ukraine’s security. “Now the fact of an invitation for Ukraine to NATO can truly become fundamental for peace,” emphasised the President of Ukraine.

Determination on the issue of NATO for Ukraine also means the inevitability of European integration for Ukraine and the non-alternativeness of democracy in Ukraine. That’s why this is the starting point of the “victory plan,” the Ukrainian leader concluded.

Earlier, Zelensky presented the “victory plan” to US President Joe Biden and presidential candidates, after which he toured Europe and shared the plan with the leaders of France, Italy, and the United Kingdom.