By Beyza Binnur Donmez
GENEVA (AA) - The head of NATO on Thursday emphasized the need for "robust" security guarantees to end Russia's "terrible aggression" in Ukraine, adding Kyiv's hand should be strengthened at the negotiation table.
Mark Rutte's remarks came in at a news conference with the President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini during his visit to Slovakia.
"We all want to see an end to the terrible aggression against Ukraine, and it is vital that any deal reached brings an enduring peace that Russia will never again try to take one more square kilometer of Ukrainian land," Rutte said.
"This will require robust security guarantees," he said, noting that NATO allies are actively discussing what that might entail.
Underlining Europe's "vital role in securing peace in Ukraine,” he said: "We have been in close touch with the US administration on this at every level, and we all agree that we need an enduring peace in Ukraine."
"At the same time, we should continue to strengthen Ukraine's hands so that they can come to the negotiating table from a position of strength as an alliance," he added.