NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has sharply responded to Russia’s objections regarding the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine as part of security guarantees.
During a press conference, Rutte was asked about his stance on Moscow’s rejection of NATO forces being stationed on Ukrainian territory.
“Why should we care what Russia thinks about troops in Ukraine? Ukraine is a sovereign country. It’s not for them to decide,” Rutte stated.
He added that Russia has no right to interfere with Ukraine’s sovereign decisions, particularly when it comes to security measures that could support the achievement of a peace agreement.
“If Ukraine wants to have security-guaranteeing forces on its territory to support a peace deal, that’s their decision. No one else can decide on this,” he emphasized.
Rutte also strongly criticized the perception of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s influence on the international stage.
“We need to stop making Putin more powerful than he is. He is nothing more than the governor of Texas, nothing else. So, we shouldn’t take him that seriously,” the NATO chief stressed.
