NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Thursday, November 5, that a total victory for either side in the Russia-Ukraine war is unlikely.
He also acknowledged that the end of fighting would free up Russian troops currently deployed in Ukraine.
U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division fire an M1 Abrams at enemy targets during Rotation 24-06, at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., April 11, 2024. Rotations at the National Training Center ensure Army Brigade Combat Teams remain versatile, responsive, and consistently available for current and future contingencies. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Julie Jaeger, Operations Group, National Training Center)
Secretary of the Army, Hon. Dan Driscoll, fires a round from a M1A2 Abrams Tank while visiting Fort Stewart, GA., June 23, 2025. Secretary Driscoll met with Soldiers and leaders from the 3rd Infantry Division implementing transformation in contact initiatives, and had candid conversations with Soldiers about quality of life concerns to help find solutions to scale across the Army. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Resnick)
“These kinds of wars always end in a peace deal, which is often a kind of compromise,” he told Pauw & De Wit on Dutch television on November 5, Kyiv Post reports.
Rutte’s comments come as American, Ukrainian, and European officials work on security arrangements ahead of November 10-11 U.S.-brokered talks with Russia.
‘No Imminent’ Threat to NATO Territory
Rutte warned that Russia would still have access to the troops currently fighting Ukraine.
He also added that the U.S. remains essential for Europe’s defense and can offer some military support Ukraine cannot get anywhere else.
In his remarks on October 14, Rutte said during a visit to Estonia that NATO saw “no imminent threat against [its] territory.”
“We will defend every inch of Allied territory,” he added.
NATO does not recognize Russia’s attempt to annex four regions of Ukraine in 2022 and has stressed that the “lands are Ukraine and will always be Ukraine.”
Abu Dhabi Talks Loom
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that talks will take place November 10-1, stating that the talks will focus on “post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts, and next steps toward peace.”
The talks follow consultations in Brussels.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said representatives from France, Germany, Britain, and the United States would “discuss the way forward on bringing about a just and sustainable end to the war in Ukraine.”
Following the talks on Thursday, envoy Jared Kushner said there were plans to hold a long-term security dialogue, improve communication in times of crisis, increase military transparency, and pursue de-escalation.
“No country would have a veto over another’s sovereign choices,” he said, adding that “NATO will remain central to European collective defense.”
Trump Predicts Wider Deal
On November 5, U.S. President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev at the White House.
While he would not comment on what was discussed, he said they would agree on a deal that goes further than Ukraine.
“I could even say it might involve all of Europe,” he told reporters.
While confirming he did not meet with Ukrainian officials in Washington on November 5, Trump did not offer specifics on what the deal would look like.
Rutte said he speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy every week and added that it was important for Trump and Putin to have a “good relationship.” He said he encouraged Trump to “keep your chin up” after Republicans lost both houses of Congress in the November 3 midterms.
Rutte declined to comment on whether he supported Trump’s deal with Putin to export Russian diesel to the United States.
However, the deal has caused business issues, with two tankers originally heading to the United States being redirected amid fears of sanctions and legal concerns among prospective buyers, according to a Financial Times report on November 5.
Zelenskyy has slammed the deal, saying it would mean Moscow receiving more profits from Russian energy.
But Zelenskyy told European Council President António Costa in Madrid that Europe needs to be involved in the discussions on security guarantees and Ukraine’s economic recovery. Costa agreed, Ukraine’s presidential office said.
Kyiv Wants Answers
Speaking to Ukrainian broadcaster 1+1 on Thursday, Zelenskyy said he wants concrete answers, noting: “What matters is that it’s clear on paper.”
Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s chief negotiator, recently noted that “security guarantees are not merely a political declaration but a system that works in practice.”
Indeed, recent talks seem to have focused largely on Ukraine’s near-term defense needs. Zelenskyy had a 90-minute call with Witkoff and Kushner on Wednesday.
“We need interceptors for Patriot systems to protect lives from Russian attacks,” he stressed in a presidential statement following the conversation.
He expressed the gravity of the situation at the Ibero-American Summit on Thursday, announcing that every single Ukrainian power plant has been in some way impacted due to Russia’s attacks.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
