These negotiations are not easy, not least in the wake of this abhorrent violence. But we support all of President Trump's peace efforts, says the NATO chief at a press conference together with Zelenskyj in the southern port city of Odessa.
Rutte's comment stands in some contrast to the more optimistic description by the US envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, says that we are "on the threshold" of something "very important" in an interview with Fox News.
Peacekeeping Force
However, the US-led talks have so far not yielded any tangible results, and Russia has, unlike Ukraine, refused a ceasefire.
Zelenskyj is now emphasizing the importance of preparing a Western peacekeeping force, which is to be deployed in the event of a ceasefire in the fighting, moving forward.
The United Kingdom, France, and other NATO countries are already actively working to lay the groundwork for a security force in Ukraine. It is crucial that we are all fast and effective enough in this process.
More Air Defense
Ukraine's president says that he and Rutte also discussed Ukraine's need for air defense.
Everyone can see how acute Ukraine's need for air defense systems and drones is.
The recent weeks' bloody Russian attacks on civilians in Sumy, 35 dead, and Kryvyj Rih, 20 dead, have received significant attention.
