Russia has no right to decide on foreign troops in Ukraine - NATO chief
Photo: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Countries such as Russia have no right to interfere in the issue of foreign troops in Ukraine. This is exclusively Kyiv's decision, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says.
"But why are we interested in what Russia thinks about troops in Ukraine? It’s a sovereign country. It’s not for them to decide," he stressed at the IISS Prague Defense Summit.
Support for Ukraine and security guarantees
Rutte noted that Ukraine can decide for itself whether it needs foreign security forces. Such a decision can be made as part of a peace agreement.
"Russia has nothing to do with this. … Ukraine is a sovereign nation. If Ukraine wants to have security guarantee forces in Ukraine to support the peace deal, it’s up to them. Nobody else can decide about it," the NATO secretary general said.
Don't exaggerate Putin's role
According to Rutte, the West should stop attributing too much influence to Vladimir Putin. He expressed confidence that Putin's positions should not determine the actions of Europe and NATO.
"I think we really have to stop making Putin too powerful. He is the governor of Texas, not more. So let’s not take it too serious," Rutte said.
Security guarantees for Ukraine
European countries are currently discussing security guarantees for Ukraine. Some of them say they are ready to send troops to Ukraine, but only after Russia's war against Ukraine has ended.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has called the idea of deploying foreign troops in Ukraine unacceptable.
