For Mark Rutte, " it is not Vladimir Putin who decides " when Ukraine will join NATO.
The head of the North Atlantic Alliance said he does not want Ukraine's possible membership in the defense alliance to depend on Russia's stance, following the conditions the Kremlin leader set for Donald Trump to stop the war.
" NATO is making it clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no veto power or vote to decide who will join the alliance in the future ," Rutte said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Rutte further added that " Ukraine will join NATO one day after there is lasting peace ."
This, according to the NATO Secretary General, is achieved by ensuring that Putin will never again try to occupy parts of Ukraine, and that Kiev is in the best possible position before peace talks begin.
Rutte also reiterated his call for higher defense contributions from NATO allies.
" Spending 2% of GDP on defense was not nearly enough. If allies do not increase their security spending, NATO will no longer be able to defend itself in four or five years ," Rutte said, without giving a concrete figure.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has asked allies to spend 5% of their economic output on defense. (A2 Televizion)
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