NATO Foreign Minister Mark Rutte recently emphasized that, in the context of the war in Ukraine, Russia, under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, has effectively ignored the possibility of initiating serious diplomatic negotiations with Ukraine
According to him, Moscow rejected the proposal to hold a meeting in Istanbul, initiated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and instead sent a low-level delegation, indicating the capital’s leadership does not accept genuine intentions to reach a peace agreement. As reported by "European Pravda," citing Rutte’s words, NATO Secretary General stated that Ukraine demonstrates openness to dialogue, showing readiness to meet personally with Putin and to negotiate with the aim of ending the conflict. Zelensky has repeatedly said that he is ready to sit at the negotiation table as soon as Russian troops announce a ceasefire. "I am willing to engage in dialogue with Putin, but only if Russia first stops hostilities and agrees to a peaceful settlement," the Ukrainian president emphasized. Rutte pointed out that the situation is clear: "Ukraine demonstrates its openness and willingness to compromise, while Russia has ignored this opportunity." He added that the global community and U.S. allies express support for Ukraine’s efforts and are working to find a way out of the conflict under any circumstances, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy and peace efforts. The NATO Secretary General also thanked the United States and the team of President Donald Trump for their commitment to the idea of achieving peace in Ukraine. His words confirm that significant attention is given to diplomatic efforts and allied endeavors to peacefully resolve the ongoing conflict, which has now lasted over a year. Meanwhile, official Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov officially stated that Vladimir Putin does not plan to visit Istanbul for negotiations with the Ukrainian delegation in the near future. In turn, Ukrainian President Zelensky, after landing at Ankara Airport, emphasized that further steps regarding possible negotiations will be determined through close dialogue with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. At the same time, no specific date or scheduled meeting between Russia and Ukraine has been announced regarding diplomatic negotiations. Thus, the situation remains uncertain. Ukraine demonstrates its openness to dialogue, but without active participation and political Will from Russia to negotiate, pathways to a peaceful settlement remain closed. It is evident that prospects for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict depend not only on Kyiv’s policies but also on Moscow’s next steps. At the same time, it is stressed that the global community strongly supports Ukraine’s pursuit of peace and is making efforts to create favorable conditions for a return to the negotiation process.