Rutte expects clarity soon for Ukraine's European security guarantees

I expect tomorrow, or after tomorrow, to have clarity about what we can collectively offer”, Rutte said at a press conference with Estonia President Alar Karis, at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

“That means we can engage even more intensively, including the American side, to see what they want to contribute to security guarantees”, he added.

France's President Emmanuel Macron, and Great Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer will organise a largely virtual meeting of the leaders of the “Willy coalition”, primarily European allies who have worked for security guarantees for Ukraine.

The aim of guarantees is to prevent Russia from carrying out any new attacks on Ukraine after the war is over, whether through a ceasefire or an agreement on permanent peace.

Western officials say the most important element of guarantees will be continued and strong support for the Ukrainian armed forces, but measures are also expected to include an international force to provide security to Kiev.

European leaders have made it clear that such power will be possible only with the support of the United States of America.

US President Donald Trump pledged this month, but Washington has not yet decided what it is willing to offer.

Rutte tried at the press conference to assure NATO members in Eastern Europe that resources dedicated to security guarantees for Ukraine would not weaken the protection of the Western alliance against Russia on the east wing.

“We need to prevent excessive distribution of our resources, and that means that we always have to see what impact NATO's (safeguard) plans will have, he said. / REL/