‘Putin Is Desperate’ as ‘Ukraine Changes Battlefield Dynamics,’ Rutte Says at Ankara NATO Summit

Key Points:

• NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized at the Ankara summit that Russia cannot win its war against Ukraine through terror tactics and called for accelerated delivery of weapons and air defenses to Kyiv amid ongoing Russian missile and drone strikes.
• Rutte praised Ukraine's military resilience, describing the conflict as a stalemate that prevents Russian advances, while condemning Moscow's attacks on civilians as ineffective and desperate moves by President Putin.
• Highlighting Ukraine's increasing capability to strike Russia's economy and defense industry, Rutte warned of the heavy Russian military casualties and discouraged Russians from joining the war effort due to high fatality risks.
• NATO is actively supplying interceptors and other military aid to Ukraine through the US-led PURL program, but Rutte acknowledged limitations in Western stockpiles and called for increased weapons production, noting that missile co-production remains a bilateral issue among allies.
• On diplomacy, Rutte contrasted Ukraine's willingness to negotiate with Russia against Putin's refusal and warned of Belarus's significant influence by Moscow, while also identifying China, North Korea, and Iran as key enablers sustaining Russia's aggression in Ukraine.