NATO chief Rutte: Putin is unpredictable, Ukraine will always be involved in negotiations

President Putin is 'unpredictable' and must realise that the West is united. NATO chief Mark Rutte said this in a press conference. Rutte also made it clear that Ukraine will always be involved in peace talks.

Emma Thies 13-02-25, 16:43 Last update: 17:51
"I don't know exactly what's going on in President Putin's head, of course," Rutte told reporters after consulting with defense ministers. "He's a strong negotiator, he's very unpredictable, but ultimately, if we want a peace agreement, we need him."

Rutte also pointed out that Ukraine was 'never promised' that the country would be allowed to become a NATO member once a peace agreement was reached with Russia.

Phone call
NATO chief Mark Rutte said he was aware that US President Donald Trump would soon be calling his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. But Rutte did not know the details, he said a day after the controversial phone call.

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Rutte has been calling on Ukraine's allies for months not to speak openly about the stakes of the negotiations. However, he avoids criticizing US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, who has already done so.

Closely involved
NATO chief Rutte said earlier today that Ukraine should be involved in talks to end the war with Russia. The United States announced on Wednesday that it had started negotiations with Russia and informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about this only afterwards.

"When we talk about Ukraine, it is of course crucial that Ukraine is closely involved in everything that happens concerning Ukraine," Rutte said upon arrival for consultations with the defense ministers of the NATO countries. He points out that American President Donald Trump also called Zelensky after his telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. "That seemed like a successful phone call."