Rutte: We must ensure Ukraine's best position for negotiations

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has emphasized that the Alliance will continue to provide military support to Ukraine to ensure that it has the strongest possible position in possible peace talks with Russia.

He said this in Brussels before the start of an informal meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council. According to Rutte, it is important not just to reach negotiations, but to ensure that their outcome guarantees a lasting peace.

"We have to ensure that Ukraine is in the best possible position when the negotiations start and that when the negotiations are over, the peace in Ukraine that results from these negotiations are long-lasting and achievable and that Putin will not try to recapture any square kilometer of Ukraine in the future. This is really important. To achieve this, we need to continue our military support," the NATO chief emphasized.

To achieve this goal, NATO countries are stepping up their support for Ukraine. Last year, the allies raised more than 50 billion euros in military aid.

Rutte also announced the creation of new structures to support the Ukrainian military. A specialized command is already operating in Wiesbaden to coordinate assistance, and next week the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center (JATEC) will start operating in Poland.

"We will launch this joint structure between Ukraine and NATO to make sure that all the lessons and all the insights from you have been taken into account, all the developments and areas of struggle. As a collective Alliance, we will learn from you and apply those lessons. This will start next week," Rutte said.

For his part, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov also noted the progress in cooperation with NATO and emphasized that the Allies remain on Ukraine's side. He thanked all Allied partners for their strong support.

"Today we have to continue our conversation. Our focus is on security assistance. We have seen that all Allies support it, and the United States is also with us in continuing this security assistance. NATO is taking over the security assistance and training for us, it is already in process, it is already established, thanks to NATO and its leadership. At this stage, our message is this: we continue (the fight), we are strong, we are capable, and we will achieve results," Umerov said.

On Wednesday, February 12, it became known that the United Kingdom announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $185 million. It will include tanks, artillery, missiles, and other weapons.

On February 12, it also became known that Latvia would provide Ukraine with 42 Patria armored personnel carriers, most of which are new. In particular, last year Latvia assisted worth 100 million euros. This level of support is planned for this year and next year.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Netherlands handed over a new batch of F-16 aircraft to the Air Force of Ukraine. Soon they will start performing combat missions, strengthening our defense and ability to effectively counter Russian aggression.

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