NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's visit to Odesa, Ukraine, alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky, reaffirmed the alliance's steadfast commitment to Ukraine. Rutte highlighted the ongoing military and training support provided by NATO, emphasizing that this aid aims to ensure Ukraine's strength and sovereignty.
Simultaneously, US envoy Steve Witkoff revealed that discussions with Russia involve Ukraine's distance from NATO integration. Witkoff detailed a conversation with Vladimir Putin, where Putin expressed a desire for 'permanent peace' encompassing five territories: Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Russia also seeks assurances regarding Ukraine's relationship with NATO and Article 5.
The article also covers recent events, including:
The ongoing conflict in Kursk is highlighted, along with the implications of these attacks for the peace process.
The article concludes by mentioning the dismissal of the governor of Sumy, Volodmyr Artiukh, following criticism over a medal ceremony held hours before the deadly Russian missile strike, and President Trump's statement that the attack was a 'mistake' by the Russian army.