Next 10–15 Days Could Be Decisive for Peace in Ukraine, Says NATO Chief Rutte
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has emphasized Turkey’s pivotal role in mediating toward a possible Ukraine peace deal with Russia, as momentum builds for the upcoming Istanbul talks, The Gaze reports, citing Anadolu Agency.
“In the last few weeks, negotiations between Ukraine and Russia have made progress,” Rutte said. He pointed to the May 10 online session of the Ukraine-focused Coalition of Volunteers, in which Turkey participated, as an encouraging sign of advancing diplomacy.
Regarding the planned Istanbul peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, expected to begin on May 15, Rutte said: “It’s difficult to predict what will happen in the next 24 to 48 hours, but I remain in close contact with all key players.”
Rutte stressed that the coming 10 to 15 days could be decisive for peace under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership. “The United States and Turkey both have crucial roles to play,” he said.
Rutte reiterated that while Ukraine’s NATO membership remains an open discussion, “we have never promised NATO membership to Ukraine or anyone else as part of a peace deal.” He insisted that Ukraine’s path toward peace and its NATO aspirations should be treated as separate tracks.
He also warned about Russia’s rapidly increasing military production, noting: “Russia now produces in three months what NATO produces in a year.”
Looking ahead to the NATO summit in The Hague, Rutte expressed confidence that the event would showcase unity, readiness, and the alliance’s strength. “We are meeting at a good point, at a good time,” he said, underlining NATO’s preparedness in the face of Russian aggression and other global threats.
As The Gaze reported earlier, European foreign ministers issued a united call for peace in Ukraine on Monday, with several top diplomats urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage seriously in negotiations.
Zelenskyy has said that he does not believe that Putin will be brave enough to come to Istanbul for direct talks with him, although he does not completely rule out this possibility.
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