Negotiations on the initiative of Donald Trump for a general ceasefire between kyiv and Moscow “are not easy,” said NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte, on Tuesday in Odessa, alongside Ukrainian President, Volodyr Zelensky.
“These discussions are not easy, especially following this horrible violence,” said Mark Rutte in this big port city in southern Ukraine, denouncing the “terrible” Russian attacks against Ukrainian civilians.
“But we support all of President Trump’s efforts in favor of peace,” added the head of the Atlantic Alliance.
These words contrast with those of the emissary of the American president, Steve Witkoff, who said on Monday, three days after a new meeting with the Russian head of state Vladimir Putin, that the talks were “on the verge” to allow advances.
“Scandalous” attacks
After three years of a war that made tens of thousands of deaths, the government of Donald Trump aims to quickly end hostilities and organized separate discussions with Russian and Ukrainian officials, who have however led to any concrete breakthrough.
Under the pressure of Washington who also made a spectacular rapprochement with Moscow, kyiv had accepted an unanswered cessation of the fighting, for 30 days, rejected for Russia since.
Mark Rutte also called “terrible” “systematic” attacks from Russia against civilians as “scandalous” attacks, his trip to Ukraine working following a series of particularly devastating bombardments.
On Sunday, the shooting of two Russian ballistic missiles on Soumy, in the northeast, caused the death of at least 35 civilians, one of the deadliest attacks since the start of this conflict.
-On April 4, another killed around twenty people, including nine children in Kryvyï Rig (center-east), the native city of Volodymyr Zelensky.
Security quota
“For 35 days, Vladimir Putin ignores the American proposal for a complete ceasefire,” said the Ukrainian president during the press conference with Mr. Rutte.
The recent bombings of Ukrainian cities “demonstrate that the Russians are not only determined to continue the war but that they put pressure on the West instead of feeling the strength of the pressure [occidentale] on themselves, ”he said.
Mr. Zelensky stressed that his country had an “acute need” of anti -aircraft defense systems, in particular Patriot, of American manufacturing, which make it possible to shoot down ballistic missiles.
Such equipment and ammunition necessary for their operation are “available” worldwide and their possible delivery to Ukraine “depends only on the decisions of the leaders,” he continued.
He also wished the “rapid” constitution of a Western military contingent intended to be deployed in Ukraine.
“The United Kingdom, France and other NATO countries are already actively preparing the basics of a security quota in Ukraine. It is important that we are all fast enough and effective in this process, “said the Ukrainian head of state.
The Russian authorities “must understand that Ukraine will not be left alone in the face of war,” he said.
