Ukraine is achieving better results on the battlefield and inflicting greater damage on Russia's energy and military infrastructure, but it remains unclear what it will take for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to genuine peace negotiations.
Speaking at a press conference in Ankara ahead of the NATO leaders' summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said:
"Ukraine's president is ready to sit down with Putin in any format to end this war. And obviously, so far Putin has refused," Rutte said, reiterating his praise for the U.S. administration's efforts to open communication channels with the Kremlin, which he said had "broken the deadlock."
Rutte added that "the Ukrainians are doing increasingly well on the battlefield. But ultimately, I cannot predict what would have to happen for Putin to come to the negotiating table."
"I don't think anyone here can predict that. It's difficult to get inside this guy's head. But we see that his economy is under strain. Ukraine is striking deep inside Russia, targeting critical energy and defense industrial infrastructure, and, of course, Ukraine continues to perform better and better on the battlefield," the NATO chief said.
At the same time, he acknowledged that Putin remains willing to sacrifice 35,000 soldiers per month in order to continue the war.
"I don't know what more we need to do to get Putin to the negotiating table," Rutte concluded.
