NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that U. S. President Donald Trump’s peace initiative aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine still requires further negotiations, and that the sides remain far from achieving a real settlement.

Earlier, U.S. officials gave a positive assessment of the Geneva meeting between American and Ukrainian representatives on the proposed U.S. plan. The White House noted that most of the key points had already been agreed upon, while acknowledging that the plan cannot succeed without Russia’s approval.

In an interview with the media group RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, Rutte explained that the document serves as a basis for talks between Kyiv and Washington. He stressed that the proposal contains strong elements but also includes difficult points that require additional work and continued dialogue. He did not disclose any details of the plan.

According to Rutte, discussions are also taking place within the EU and NATO, although these processes run in parallel and are not directly linked to U.S.-Ukrainian talks. He described the recent consultations in Geneva as a significant success that allowed both sides to move into a substantive dialogue.

Rutte added that more meetings should follow, after which separate negotiations with the EU and NATO will be needed on several issues. He admitted that the path to peace remains long and that the final goal is still distant.

The U.S. administration previously announced that it is working on a settlement plan, but stated that it would not reveal the details while the process continues. The Kremlin, for its part, has reiterated that Russia remains open to negotiations and continues to adhere to the Anchorage discussion format.