Mark Rutte said it was up to Ukraine to decide when it was ready to begin negotiations with Russia — and that the West should help strengthen Kyiv’s position beforehand.

NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte argued that Ukraine needs to be put in a “position of strength” instead of being pushed toward peace talks, while speaking at a Tuesday conference ahead of the

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that his country needed security guarantees from NATO and more weapons to defend itself before any talks with Russia.