NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for sending a low-level delegation to the first direct peace talks with Ukraine in three years, calling it a “big mistake” that underscores Moscow’s lack of seriousness.
Speaking in Tirana, Albania, during a meeting of European leaders, Rutte said, “He knows extremely well that the ball is in his court, that he is in trouble, that he made a big mistake by sending this low-level delegation.”
The summit, part of the European Political Community (EPC), has drawn leaders from the European Union and around 20 other countries, with expectations of solidifying support for Ukraine and ramping up pressure on the Kremlin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to address the EPC’s opening session while peace talks take place in Istanbul. However, Putin’s refusal to meet Zelensky directly has lowered expectations for any meaningful breakthrough.
“I think all the pressure is now on Putin,” Rutte said. “The ball is clearly in his part of the field now… He has to play ball. He has to be serious about wanting peace.”
The Russian team in Istanbul is led by Vladimir Medinsky, a hardline adviser known for questioning Ukraine’s legitimacy and who led earlier failed talks in 2022. Ukraine’s delegation is headed by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, a Crimean native, accompanied by deputy-level officials.
The imbalance in representation has fueled concerns that Moscow may be attempting to stall or deflect rather than pursue genuine peace efforts.
What you should know
NATO’s Mark Rutte has publicly called out President Putin for undermining peace negotiations by dispatching a low-level team, signaling a lack of commitment to ending the war.
As European leaders rally behind Ukraine in Albania, pressure continues to mount on Moscow to engage in talks in good faith or face heightened diplomatic and economic isolation.
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