Peace talks on Ukraine must lead to lasting results, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told journalists before the meeting of defense ministers from the alliance in Brussels, BTA reports.
“It is important that the negotiations start“, Rutte stressed, noting that the fate of the Minsk agreements should not be repeated. He described yesterday's conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as successful, but warned that at the end of the process Putin must understand that he can no longer encroach on Ukraine.
Rutte stressed that Ukraine must be in a position of maximum strength in order for any agreements to be sustainable.
According to him, NATO countries must increase defense spending, as the United States expects Europe to bear its fair share of the financial burden. He warned that Russia produces as much military equipment in three months as NATO does in a year, and stressed that this must change.
“There is a clear expectation from the United States that NATO will remain stable and will continue to exist for generations to come“, Rutte concluded.