STORY: NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday (December 3) said it was good that peace talks to end the war in Ukraine were ongoing, but that it was necessary to make sure Ukraine was in the strongest possible position.

Rutter's comments came as NATO foreign ministers arrived for a meeting at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels to discuss alliance priorities and security issues, notably the war in Ukraine.

Rutte also said he was in constant contact with the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team.

"Marco Rubio is working very hard when it comes to the peace process on Ukraine, but also when it comes to Sudan, Gaza and all the other issues the Americans are working on. So I find it totally acceptable that he is not here," Rutte added.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES OF NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, ON UKRAINE

SHOWS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (DECEMBER 3, 2025) (NATO – Access all)

1. NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, HEADING TOWARDS JOURNALISTS

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"Again, Ukraine. How do we make sure that Ukraine stays as strong as possible? The peace talks are ongoing. That's good. But at the same time, we have to make sure that whilst they take place, and we are not sure when they will end, that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position to keep the fight going, to fight back against the Russians, but also in the strongest possible position when peace talks really get to a point where they sit at the table."

3. RUTTE LISTENING TO JOURNALIST'S QUESTION

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING (WHEN ASKED ABOUT PUTIN COMMENTS ON WAR WITH EUROPE):

"I'm not going to react to everything (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is saying. We have seen him in military clothes, dressed like a soldier at the front, but not at the front. It was quite far from the front the day before yesterday. So I'm not going to react to everything."

5. RUTTE LISTENING TO JOURNALIST'S QUESTION

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"Oh, they (the U.S.) are absolutely consulting enough. The teams here at NATO and (U.S. Secretary of State) Marco Rubio's team are in constant contact. I myself am in constant contact with the secretary of state. Of course, he's working very hard when it comes to the peace process on Ukraine, but also when it comes to Sudan, Gaza and all the other issues the Americans are working on. So I find it totally acceptable that he is not here. Chris Landau is here, the deputy secretary. I had dinner with him last night, and he will be, yeah, really great at the table. So let's not see, look into more than anything that's there."

7. RUTTE LISTENING TO JOURNALIST'S QUESTION

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"It's important that the peace process is there. Hopefully, it will lead to results. And if it takes too long, or it is not leading to results, the best way to put pressure on the Russians is by doing two things. One is making sure that the Russians understand that a weapon flow into Ukraine will keep on going. That's exactly what's happening today, thanks to the U.S. and thanks to the Europeans. The U.S. is sending its crucial gear to Ukraine, paid for by Canada and European allies, but also Europe and Canada are doing a lot bilaterally. And secondly, making sure that the economic sanctions bite, that they are effective. That's also exactly what is happening."

9. RUTTE WALKING AWAY