Not for Russia to ‘decide’ if West can deploy troops to Ukraine: Nato chief
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Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte stressed that Ukraine's sovereignty means Russia's objections to Western troops being deployed should have no bearing.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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PRAGUE - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) chief Mark Rutte said on Sept 4 that Russia did not have a veto on whether Western powers can deploy troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees if a truce is reached.
“Why are we interested in what Russia thinks about troops in Ukraine? It’s a sovereign country. It’s not for them to decide,” he said. “Russia has nothing to do with this.”
Leaders from a so-called coalition of the willing, spearheaded by France and Britain, are holding talks on Sept 4
“If Ukraine wants to have security guarantee forces in Ukraine to support a peace deal, it’s up to them. Nobody else can decide about it,” Mr Rutte said on a visit to Prague.
“I think we really have to stop making Putin too powerful,” he added, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia has said it remains firmly opposed to any Western troops being deployed in Ukraine as part of a possible peace settlement.
Western diplomats say the group of about 30 countries discussing a possible “reassurance force” for Ukraine now have concrete numbers of the troops they could commit.
European nations hope putting a clear plan on the table will convince US President Donald Trump to make good on a promise to offer American military backing.
Mr Trump has been pushing to end the war, but the Kremlin has been stalling efforts
