NATO Chief Mark Rutte
NATO chief: Iran threat weakened but not eliminated, Russia-Ukraine war needs compromise
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Rutte said neither Russia nor Ukraine is likely to win the war.
- He argued that a negotiated peace agreement involving concessions from both sides is ultimately inevitable.
- He said Iran's nuclear capabilities have become significantly weaker, although regional threats remain.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has said that neither Russia nor Ukraine is likely to emerge victorious from their ongoing war, arguing that the conflict will ultimately have to be resolved through negotiations and a peace agreement involving concessions from both sides.
In remarks reported by Bloomberg, Rutte said wars of this nature eventually end with the parties returning to the negotiating table and reaching a settlement based on mutual compromise.
He described diplomacy as the inevitable outcome of prolonged, draining conflicts, offering a pragmatic assessment of how the war in Europe is likely to conclude.
Rutte also addressed tensions in the Middle East and Iran's nuclear programme, saying that although Iranian threats and risks in the region have not entirely disappeared, Tehran's nuclear capabilities are now "much weaker" than they were previously.
His assessment comes amid recent military strikes and economic pressure targeting Iran and its nuclear-related infrastructure and programmes.
Read more: US strikes Iran as fears of renewed war grow
