NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said the US, Ukraine and Europe remain united following peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi, amid concerns that Russia could seek concessions affecting European security. Speaking in response to a question from TVP World at the Atlantic Future Forum in Oslo on Wednesday, Rutte described the US, Ukraine and Europe as “completely aligned.” “Now it's important, of course, that the next step is for the US team to travel to Moscow,” he added. “So clearly, we have to see whether the Russian side is willing to play ball to really participate in this.” Two-day negotiations in the capital of the United Arab Emirates this week produced some progress, including an agreement in principle on a major prisoner exchange, but no breakthrough on key disputes. Meanwhile, reports that Moscow is reviving demands to roll back NATO's military presence in eastern Europe have raised questions about whether European security could become a bargaining chip in Washington's efforts to end the war.
