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NATO–Ukraine Talks in Kyiv: Rutte Calls for a Strong Ukrainian Military and Security Guarantees
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![Photo of Maryna Kulakova]( "Photo of Maryna Kulakova")
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Kyiv on August 22, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss Ukraine’s future security architecture and ways to move closer to ending the war, according to Ukrinform.
Zelenskyy said the United States is prepared to be part of Ukraine’s security guarantees, calling it the first time Washington has expressed such readiness. He stressed these guarantees must be “Article 5-like,” modeled on NATO’s collective defense clause, and should cover sustained funding for Ukraine’s armed forces, the supply of weapons, and diplomatic support. Turkey, he added, has also shown interest in contributing by taking responsibility for maritime security.
Zelenskyy pointed to NATO’s PURL initiative, which allows Kyiv to purchase US-made air defense systems such as Patriot batteries and missiles with partner funding.
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“The PURL program is already working. Mark, thank you very much for this initiative, it is a very strong one. The program allows us to purchase American weapons with partner funds. It already includes $1.5 billion from our European partners, and new participants will join soon. We thank each of them,” Zelenskyy said.
According to him, this enables Ukraine to buy in the United States such urgently needed items as air defense systems. “First and foremost, these are Patriot systems and missiles for them, as well as HIMARS and other weapons,” he noted.
Rutte emphasized that NATO allies are now working on defining reliable security guarantees for Ukraine.
“These strong guarantees will play an extremely important role. When the time comes, dear Volodymyr, to begin bilateral negotiations, you will know you have the strength of Ukraine’s friends behind you—ensuring Russia abides by any agreement and never again seizes even a single square kilometer of Ukrainian land,” he said.
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He outlined a two-layered approach: a peace agreement backed by strengthening Ukraine’s military, and additional guarantees from the US and European partners. Discussions are also underway on whether foreign troops could play a role, though he said it was too early to predict the outcome.
According to Zelenskyy, negotiations on the scope and content of these security guarantees are taking place almost daily, involving security advisers, Ukraine’s military, and diplomats from allied countries.
Earlier, it was reported that top military commanders from the United States and several European countries have finalized a package of military options for Ukraine, which will now be reviewed by senior national security officials, Reuters reported on August 21.
