Not for Russia to 'decide' if West can deploy troops to Ukraine: NATO chief

Not for Russia to 'decide' if West can deploy troops to Ukraine: NATO chief
by AFP Staff Writers
Prague (AFP) Sept 4, 2025

NATO chief Mark Rutte said Thursday that Russia did not have a veto on whether Western powers can deploy troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees if a truce is reached.

"Why are we interested in what Russia thinks about troops in Ukraine? It's a sovereign country. It's not for them to decide," Rutte said.

"Russia has nothing to do with this."

Leaders from a so-called coalition of the willing spearheaded by France and Britain are holding talks Thursday to firm up contributions to the planned security guarantees.

"If Ukraine wants to have security guarantee forces in Ukraine to support a peace deal, it's up to them. Nobody else can decide about it," Rutte said on a visit to Prague.

"I think we really have to stop making Putin too powerful," he added, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia has said it remains firmly opposed to any Western troops being deployed in Ukraine as part of a possible peace settlement.

Western diplomats say that the group of roughly 30 countries discussing a possible "reassurance force" for Ukraine now have concrete numbers of the troops they could commit.

European nations hope that by putting a clear plan on the table they can convince US President Donald Trump to make good on a promise to offer American military backing.

Trump has been pushing to end the war, but the Kremlin has been stalling efforts to organise direct talks between Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

NATO chief expects 'clarity' soon on Europe's contribution to Ukraine guarantees
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) Sept 3, 2025 - NATO chief Mark Rutte said Wednesday that he expected talks between European leaders in Paris to firm up plans on security guarantees for Ukraine, and pave the way to get a clearer picture on US involvement.

"Tomorrow will be an important meeting, so I expect tomorrow, or soon after tomorrow, to have clarity on what collectively we can deliver," Rutte told journalists.

"That means that we can engage even more intensely, also with the American side to see what they want to deliver in terms of their participation."

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the talks in Paris on Thursday with leaders from a so-called coalition of the willing.

Spearheaded by France and Britain, the group of around 30 countries intends to provide support to Kyiv's military and possibly deploy some of its own soldiers to Ukraine if and when a ceasefire is agreed.

The deployment would aim to deter future Russian aggression.

US President Donald Trump, who has been pushing efforts to end the war, has said Washington could play a role supporting the Europeans.

But he has ruled out any American troops on the ground, and what exact commitments he would be willing to give remain vague.

Diplomats told AFP that European countries in the coalition were pushed to come up with concrete details on what they could contribute at a meeting of military chiefs last week.

French President Emmanuel Macron's office said Tuesday that there were now "enough contributions to be able to say to the Americans that we are ready to take our responsibilities as long as they take on theirs -- meaning giving European partners a 'backstop'."

That backstop could involve different aspects including intelligence, logistic support and communications.

Trump has been trying, so far in vain, to organise a summit between President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky, after having rolled out the red carpet for the Russian leader in Alaska last month.

On Tuesday, Trump said he was "very disappointed" with Putin for failing to move towards a peace deal on Ukraine.