During an unannounced visit to the Ukrainian port city of Odesa on Tuesday, NATO chief Mark Rutte voiced support for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts toward peace in Ukraine, while strongly condemning ongoing Russian aggression.
“These discussions are not easy, not least in the wake of this horrific violence. But we all support President Trump’s push for peace,” Rutte said, referring to U.S.-led talks aimed at negotiating a ceasefire and long-term stability in the region.
He also denounced Moscow’s continued assaults on Ukrainian civilians, describing them as part of a “terrible pattern” that must be addressed through international pressure and security cooperation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who hosted Rutte during the visit, stressed the need for international forces to be ready to deter any future Russian aggression if a peace deal is reached.
“Britain, France and other NATO countries are already actively preparing the ground for a security contingent in Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “It is important that we all be fast enough and efficient in this process.”
He also made an urgent appeal for enhanced air defense systems, highlighting the devastation caused by recent missile strikes.
“Absolutely everyone sees how acute Ukraine’s need for air defence systems and missiles is,” Zelensky emphasized. “We talked about this a lot today.”
