NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized during his speech in the Verkhovna Rada that reaching an agreement to end the war between Russia and Ukraine will require making difficult decisions. He made this statement during his official visit to Kyiv.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Contradictions Regarding Security Guarantees
Rutte did not specify what compromises may be necessary to resolve the conflict. Earlier, Western media reported that the U.S. administration allegedly links the provision of security guarantees to Ukraine with the possibility of a peace agreement that would involve ceding Donbas to Russia. At the same time, the White House denied this information: Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly emphasized that
“the only role of the U.S. in the peace process is to bring both sides together to reach an agreement.”
Arms and Support for Ukraine’s Air Defense
In his address to parliament, Rutte also stated that Ukraine is receiving 90% of the missiles for its air defense systems through the PURL arms procurement program. He noted that millions of euros are coming in from partners and allies thanks to the PURL mechanism. According to the NATO Secretary General, since last summer, allies have provided 75% of the missiles used on the front lines and 90% for airspace protection, highlighting the need to further accelerate these supplies.
The PURL program involves the procurement of weapons, including missiles for Patriot systems, from the U.S. with funds from European NATO member countries. Some of Ukraine’s allies had previously limited their participation in this initiative as they provided domestically produced weapons instead of American ones. By 2026, the majority of missiles for Ukraine’s air defense were supplied by the U.S. as part of military assistance.