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NATO’s Rutte: Ukrainian Armed Forces Are Changing the Dynamics of Russia’s War

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Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, speaks at the pre-summit press conference on July 6, 2026, in Ankara, Türkiye. (Source: Getty Images)
Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, speaks at the pre-summit press conference on July 6, 2026, in Ankara, Türkiye. (Source: Getty Images)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Ukraine’s armed forces have reshaped the battlefield dynamics of Russia’s war against the country, according to UNITED24 Media correspondents on July 6.

The comments came at a press conference ahead of the alliance's 2026 summit in Ankara.

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"Right now, Ukraine is changing the dynamics on the battlefield, thanks to the bravery, the dedication, and ingenuity of its armed forces," Rutte stated.

The Secretary General tied Ukraine's progress on the front directly to the conduct of its troops. He singled out their courage, commitment, and inventiveness as the qualities driving the shift against Moscow.

The 2026 summit will bring alliance members together in Ankara, the setting for Rutte's latest endorsement of Kyiv's war effort.

“Together we represent nearly two-thirds of the world economy, and we are coming together because we know that cooperation is key,” Rutte stated. “We are stronger together, in NATO, with partners, to ensure the freedom and security we all hold dear.”

The remarks came as Russia's offensive momentum has slowed after more than four years of fighting.

Earlier, Ukrainian commanders had described Moscow's forces as severely degraded and no longer capable of mounting major breakthroughs, with advances along the front narrowing in recent months.

The assessment echoed remarks Rutte made in Brussels on June 17, when he told reporters ahead of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group that Kyiv was proving Russia's war machine was not unstoppable and that it was shifting the dynamics on the battlefield.

At that meeting, military support for Ukraine remained a stated NATO priority, with European allies and Canada lifting core defense investment by more than $90 billion over the past year.

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