Mark Rutte said it was up to Ukraine to decide when it was ready to begin negotiations with Russia — and that the West should help strengthen Kyiv’s position beforehand.

Ukrainian officials made it clear that they won’t countenance any half measures or stopgap solutions on NATO membership.

NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte argued that Ukraine needs to be put in a “position of strength” instead of being pushed toward peace talks, while speaking at a Tuesday conference ahead of the