“Direct talks are now underway, and this is important progress, but Russian attacks, like those last night, do not signal seriousness about peace.” ~ @secgennato, Mark Rutte 🇺🇦💛💙🇪🇺
#Repost @kyivindependent_official with @use.repost_ . . . NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on Feb. 3 as Russia launched a large-scale strike on Ukraine overnight.
The news comes as Ukraine and Russia prepare for another round of talks this week aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion. Representatives of Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia are set to meet in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 4-5.
Rutte and President Volodymyr Zelensky placed candles and paid tribute to fallen Ukrainian soldiers at a memorial on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, according to the President’s Office.
Rutte also spoke at a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament.
“Direct talks are now underway, and this is important progress,” he said at the Rada. “But Russian attacks, like those last night, do not signal seriousness about peace.”
Rutte also said that strong security guarantees must be provided to Ukraine as part of a peace deal.
“You need to know that this peace will be lasting not because papers have been signed but because there is hard power to back it up,” he added.
Some European allies have announced that they will deploy troops to Ukraine after a deal is reached, and the U.S. is expected to provide a backstop, Rutte said. These will include "troops on the ground, jets in the air, and ships on the Black Sea," he added.
Rutte also called for increasing military aid to Ukraine.
"I know that more is urgently needed," he said. "And we're working to ensure that more comes quickly through PURL (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List) and through every means possible. I urge allies to dig in their stockpiles to offer whatever they can to meet Ukraine's needs, particularly air defense."
Photos: Andrii Nesterenko / AFP; President of Ukraine/Anadolu via Getty Images
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