NATO intends to continue supporting Ukraine until the moment when negotiations with Russia, in the words of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, begin «one fine day.» By that time, he believes, Kyiv should approach them from the strongest possible position.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Rutte said the alliance’s task now is to support Ukraine in the conflict and strengthen its capabilities ahead of a possible peace process. At the same time, he emphasized that Russia’s participation in such negotiations depends on the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The NATO secretary general also said that Ukraine had begun to show successes in its confrontation with Russia. According to him, this was also acknowledged by U. S. President Donald Trump during their meeting at the White House.

However, Rutte noted that such assessments do not mean the Russian side is ready to willingly take part in the peace process. In his view, this is why the West must continue strengthening Kyiv before negotiations begin.

The Financial Times previously wrote that Trump is leaning toward increasing support for Ukraine and may put more active pressure on Russia to end the conflict. The newspaper noted that the shift in his position was noticed in Kyiv as well.

French President Emmanuel Macron also recently spoke about a change in the U.S. president’s views. According to him, Trump arrived at the G7 summit believing that Ukraine would lose, but then changed his opinion.

In Moscow, such Western actions are linked not to the search for a settlement, but to an attempt to buy time. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Europeans are trying to knock Washington off the course toward a Ukrainian settlement in order to use the pause for their own rearmament and to strengthen the AFU.

Russia, for its part, says it is ready for negotiations with Ukraine and Europe. Vladimir Putin called the agreements reached between Moscow and Kyiv at the Istanbul talks the basis for resuming further dialogue.