NATO secretary general outlines three levels of security guarantees for Ukraine
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte believes that the main goal of the security guarantees to take effect after a ceasefire is to raise the cost Russia would have to pay for any potential renewed attack on Ukraine.
Source: Mark Rutte at a press conference in Kyiv, as reported by a correspondent of European Pravda
Details: Rutte declined to comment substantively on a Financial Times publication about agreed principles for guaranteeing Ukraine's security, though he acknowledged having read the report.
Meanwhile, he confirmed that current agreements envisage "three layers" of security guarantees.
He said that the first level of guarantees is a strengthened Ukrainian army, supported by partner funding. "They [the Ukrainian army – ed.] will be the first line of defence, obviously, for Ukraine, if ever the Russians or anyone would attack Ukraine. And we all feel the obligation to make sure that Ukrainian Armed Forces are in the best possible position to protect themselves," the secretary general said.
The second level, Rutte noted, is the Coalition of the Willing, brought together by France and the UK. He refrained from detailing how it would act in the event of an attack, saying only that the coalition's aim is not just to ensure that the Ukrainian military has everything it needs, but also to guarantee the other steps.
"And then the US starting this summer said, 'we want to get involved'," Rutte concluded.
All three levels together should provide a degree of deterrence sufficient to give confidence "that Russia will never try to attack again".
"I will not comment on everything in the media, other than saying that generally, this is the intent – that the security guarantee will be so strong that for Russia to attack again will be a very bad decision," he summed up.
Background:
- As reported, the Financial Times publication described how Ukraine's allies would ensure a ceasefire.
- Meanwhile, the United States has called on allies to reimagine NATO.
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Ukraine on Tuesday, where he said he would find more than US$15 billion for the purchase of weapons for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
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