NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, stated that a peace agreement with Russia will involve "difficult choices" for Ukraine, in the context of recent Russian attacks.

In a speech delivered in front of the Ukrainian Parliament, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that a potential peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine will require "difficult choices." Although Rutte did not specify what he meant by these choices, his statement follows reports from the Financial Times suggesting that the U.S. has conveyed to Kyiv that security guarantees could involve ceding the Donbas to Russia.

The White House denied these reports, emphasizing that its role is to facilitate dialogue between the parties. Rutte highlighted the importance of military support provided to Ukraine through the PURL program, which facilitates the purchase of American weapons.

His visit took place in the context of recent Russian attacks on Ukraine, including on Kyiv, and President Zelensky emphasized the sacrifice of Ukrainian soldiers. The Ukrainian Minister of Energy accused Russia of a "winter genocide" through attacks on energy infrastructure, leaving civilians without heat in extreme conditions.