Arriving in Kiev unannounced, Rutte delivered a message to Ukrainian lawmakers about the need for “difficult elections”

Concluding a peace agreement to end Russia's war in Ukraine will require “difficult choices” on the part of Kiev, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Tuesday, according to Reuters and The Guardian, in a possible allusion to the delicate issue of territorial cessions.

In a speech to the Ukrainian parliament during a visit to the capital Kiev, Rutte, who spoke through a translator, said the PURL arms procurement program provides 90 percent of Ukraine's air defense missiles.

The main statements of the head of NATO before the Parliament in Kyiv:

• “The United States, Europe and Canada have affirmed their willingness to provide the guarantees Ukraine needs in order to make peace with Russia. Members of the Coalition of the Will made encouraging progress on these guarantees when they met in Paris last month. I attended that meeting, as did President Zelenskiy.
• Some European allies have announced that they will send troops to Ukraine after the conclusion of the (peace, no) agreement. Troops on the ground, planes in the air, ships on the Black Sea. The United States will be the main backer, and others have pledged to provide support in other ways.
• Security guarantees are strong, and this is essential because we know that reaching an agreement to end this terrible war will require difficult choices.
• Rightly so, you do not want another Budapest Memorandum or Minsk Agreement.“

“There is real power” that supports peace

Also, in his speech, Rutte assured that the allies' support for Ukraine will not waver. “Ukraine is and will remain essential for our security”, said the head of NATO.

In the context of ongoing peace negotiations, the Secretary General pointed out the importance of solid security guarantees for Ukraine, underlining the transatlantic assurance commitments in the event of an agreement being concluded. “You must know that this peace will be sustainable. Not because documents have been signed, but because there is a real power that supports it,” Rutte also told the parliamentarians in the Supreme Rada.

“Putin thought for a long time that he could wait for us to give up. That Ukraine is weak, that your supporters will get tired, that our will will weaken. He was seriously mistaken. Ukraine is strong, and our support is unwavering”, assured the head of NATO, also quoted by News.ro.

He acknowledged that perhaps “the focus on other global events could cause concern” that allies' attention risks being distracted at a time when Ukraine needs support more than ever.

“But I want to assure you that our attention has not been distracted. Ukraine is and will remain essential to our security, and our commitment to support Ukraine is firm,” Rutte said.

“President Trump and his team are determined to end the bloodshed, with the support of America's allies,” the head of NATO also said, recalling that “direct negotiations are underway, which represents important progress.”

Putin “doesn't win”, says NATO chief

Mark Rutte came to Ukraine after Russia launched a combined attack on Ukraine overnight. American President Donald Trump had stated, on January 29, that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, had agreed not to attack Kiev “and other cities” for a week, without specifying when the countdown would begin.

“Russian attacks like last night's do not indicate seriousness about peace. We know that Russia is paying a heavy price for this war, with over a million casualties to date and counting. Yet despite Putin's willingness to sacrifice countless of his own people, he is not winning. Any gains on the battlefield are extremely slow. And while China, North Korea, Iran and Belarus continue to support the machine of Russia's war, Putin's economy is suffering the impact of isolation, and the growing pressure on Russia's hidden fleet is beginning to be felt,” assessed Rutte.

“We will keep the pressure on Russia and we will continue to support Ukraine,” he promised.

“So, members of the Rada – as the very capable team appointed by President Zelensky continues its work to negotiate a lasting end to this war, please know that NATO continues to stand by Ukraine and will continue to do so for years to come. Your security is our security, your peace is our peace. And it must be just and lasting, with a strong and free Ukraine and Russia aware that this reality will remain unchanged. It is what everyone wants NATO allies and it is what Ukraine deserves”, the NATO Secretary General pointed out.

“I know winter is cold, but spring will come. Stay strong. I know you will stay. Slava Ukraini!”, Rutte concluded his speech in the Kyiv parliament.

Mark Rutte arrived in Kiev on Tuesday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, hours after Russian forces again heavily bombed the energy infrastructure of the capital and other areas of the country.

The airstrikes have left thousands of Ukrainians without heating, water or electricity amid extremely cold temperatures.

Rutte's visit was not announced in advance, as is usually the case for security reasons when high-ranking officials from international institutions, heads of state or government come to the country invaded by the Russian army.