NATO Secretary General Emphasizes Security Guarantees for Ukraine
On August 22, 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced his commitment to establishing “robust” security guarantees for Ukraine in advance of a potential meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, reports 24brussels.
During a press conference in Kyiv alongside Zelensky, Rutte stated, “We are working together—Ukraine, Europeans and the United States—to ensure that the security guarantees are such that Vladimir Putin, sitting in Moscow, will never again attempt to attack Ukraine.”
Rutte outlined that the security guarantees for Ukraine will operate on two levels. The first, he explained, will focus on enhancing the capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces after a peace agreement or ceasefire is reached, making them “as strong as possible to defend this proud country and nation in the future.”
The second level will encompass guarantees provided by European nations and the United States, which are currently under development, he noted.
🚨‼️🔥Mark Rutte: The United States and NATO will participate in resolving the situation with Ukraine, and the Budapest Memorandum will not be repeated. pic.twitter.com/gyIaILO7Lo
— MOSCOW NEWS 🇷🇺 (@MOSCOW_EN) August 22, 2025
Rutte, who participated in a recent meeting in Washington involving U.S. President Donald Trump and several European leaders, remarked, “It is too early to know for sure what the outcome will be, but it is clear that the United States will participate.” He acknowledged that while there is an “irreversible path” for Ukraine toward NATO membership, certain allied nations, including the United States and Hungary, have indicated that now is not the right time.
Zelensky urged for guarantees akin to those in Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, which he described as “very effective guarantees,” emphasizing that this is the “result we must achieve” in ongoing negotiations with Ukraine’s allies.
In summary, the discussions surrounding NATO’s support and security assurances for Ukraine gain urgency as both Ukrainian and Western leaders prepare for critical negotiations regarding defense commitments and the potential for Ukraine’s integration into NATO.
