NATO secretary general points out who started war, commenting on Ukrainian strikes inside Russia
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said he does not believe Ukraine should hold back from striking targets inside Russia for the sake of potential "peace talks" and stressed that it was Moscow that started the war.
A journalist from the Russian media outlet The Breakfast Show, which broadcasts from Lithuania, asked Rutte at a press conference in Brussels ahead of a meeting of NATO defence ministers what NATO wants: "for Ukraine to continue the pressure, or to hold back for those talks" to end the war that Russia started.
In response, Rutte recalled the reasons why Ukraine is continuing to fight.
"Let's start by answering the question of why Ukraine is doing this. This is because Ukraine, on 24 February 2022, was confronted with Russia, which started a full-scale invasion, of course after already in 2014 starting the war by capturing Crimea. This was unprovoked, totally reckless, and of course Ukraine has to defend itself," Rutte said.
Rutte stressed that the allies must ensure that Ukraine receives everything it needs to maintain its position and continue defending itself against Russian aggression.
"I think the G7 statement, yesterday signed by all the heads of state and government present in this beautiful French town, is very clear on this. So maybe I can just refer to the statement, and I think it gives you the clarity that we agree on this," he added.
Following the summit, the G7 leaders said they are willing to consider granting licences for the production of interceptor missiles in Ukraine.
Commenting on the G7 leaders' statement, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha noted a positive change in the tone and assessments regarding Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the most important result of the G7 summit in France is the agreement to strengthen Ukraine's air defence.
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23 of June 2026
