NATO’s Rutte: Ukraine needs stronger support for peace talks
Ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, the alliance’s Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that what Ukraine needs is to be in the strongest possible position ahead of potential peace talks, not more ideas about what that peace would look like.
“We will all need to do more. The stronger our military support to Ukraine is now, the stronger their hand will be at the negotiating table,” Rutte told a press briefing.
Russian President Vladimir “Putin is not interested in peace. He is pressing on, trying to take more territory. Because he thinks he can break Ukraine’s resolve and ours, but he is wrong,” he added.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer made similar remarks earlier in the day, conceding that a deal is the most likely way the war will end under the current circumstances.
“We must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defense for as long as it takes,” Starmer said during a speech in London. “To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence, and right to choose their own future.”
Power cuts in western Ukraine after Russian attacks
Russia is continuing its attacks on critical infrastructure, triggering power cuts once again as the cold winter months bear down on Ukraine.
The latest strikes hit several targets in western Ukraine, which has been largely spared from the worst of the violence in the nearly three-year war.
Overnight strikes on the Rivne region hit a major energy facility, and another power station was hit in the town of Ternopil.
“An enemy drone hit an energy infrastructure facility in Ternopil. Part of the city is without electricity,” said Mayor Sergiy Nadal.
Russian forces have regularlytargeted power plants and energy infrastructure during the last several winters in order to hurt Ukrainian morale.
