NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is the primary obstacle to ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Rutte made the remarks in an interview with the German newspaper Bild, published on Sunday.
According to Rutte, Putin is willing to sacrifice large numbers of soldiers and civilians, despite failing to achieve any significant military victories on the ground. He noted that Russian forces have made only minimal territorial gains in 2025, accounting for less than 1% of Ukrainian territory.
Rutte added that Russian losses are estimated at up to 1.1 million killed or wounded, underscoring what he described as the high human cost of the Kremlin’s strategy.
Role of the United States and Donald Trump
The NATO chief emphasized that U.S. President Donald Trump is committed to bringing the conflict to an end and may be the only leader capable of pressuring Putin into accepting peace.
Rutte confirmed that Trump has lost patience several times this year due to stalled negotiations, but stressed that the United States remains a key actor in leading international efforts toward peace.
Prospects for Ending the War
In a previous interview with El País, Rutte said that Russia’s war against Ukraine could potentially end by the end of 2025, provided that decisive diplomatic pressure and international unity are maintained.
