NATO chief Rutte rejects another Budapest-style deal for Ukraine during Rada address
NATO does not want a repeat of the Budapest Memorandum or another Minsk-style agreement, Secretary General Mark Rutte told Ukraine's parliament during a speech in Kyiv on Tuesday, stressing that lasting peace for Ukraine requires robust security guarantees from the United States, Europe and Canada.
During his speech at the opening of the 15th session of the IX convocation of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, Rutte noted that over the past year, NATO countries have provided 75% of all missiles used by the Defense Forces and 90% of air defense missiles that protect Ukraine from air attacks through the PURL program.
The alliance also continues to cooperate with Ukraine in the production of military technologies, the Secretary General added.
"We are learning from you. You are applying innovation in a unique and exceptional way. As a result, many NATO countries are now working and producing certain types of equipment jointly with Ukraine and supplying it to Ukraine. We all benefit from this cooperation," said Rutte.
He believes that Ukraine needs security guarantees from the United States, Europe, and Canada for lasting peace. A "coalition of the willing" is working on developing these guarantees.
"As soon as you achieve peace, armed forces, aircraft, and naval support will immediately appear from those who have agreed to this. Other NATO members will help in other ways. Peace must be lasting. We would not want a second Budapest Memorandum or another Minsk," Rutte said.
Today, the Verkhovna Rada began its 15th session of the IX convocation. At this time, 219 MPs out of a total of 393 have registered in the session hall.
"There are not 226 votes in the hall, even to send parliamentary inquiries to the president about awarding titles to fallen soldiers," wrote MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak.
Before Rutte's speech, Sergiy Karabuta, a new member from the Servant of the People party, took the oath of office. The Central Election Commission registered Karabuta after the death of deputy Oleksandr Kabanov and the refusal of Roman Kravets, who was higher on the party list, to take the mandate.