The key facts

  • Rutte considers it unlikely that a clear winner will emerge in the conflict
  • According to him, such wars end with a compromise peace agreement
  • The Secretary General called on Europe to remain vigilant, without pointing to a direct threat from Moscow

NATO Secretary General's assessment

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that, in his view, the conflict in Ukraine will end without a clear winner — with a compromise peace agreement. This was reported by Bloomberg citing his remarks. «I don't think that is very likely. Wars like this always end with a peace agreement, which is often some kind of compromise,» Rutte was quoted as saying by Gazeta.Ru.

Vigilance and a «huge army»

The Secretary General once again repeated that Europe must remain vigilant toward Russia after the end of hostilities. At the same time, he pointed to the absence of a direct threat from Moscow, but noted that after the conflict ends, a «huge army will not exist for nothing.» Thus, Rutte simultaneously acknowledges the absence of an immediate threat and justifies maintaining vigilance by the size of the Russian army — this is his personal assessment, not a conclusion about specific plans.

Contrast with Moscow's position

Rutte's statement diverges from the rhetoric of the Russian authorities: earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin saidthat all tasks of the special military operation would be fulfilled, and the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that there is no alternative to achieving the goals of the SVO. Rutte, however, proceeds from a compromise scenario in which neither side achieves a clear victory. Neither report mentions any specific terms or timeline for a possible agreement.