NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated in an interview with the Spanish outlet El País that it is indeed possible to end the war in Ukraine by the end of 2025. But stopping the war and any peace plans will not change the fact that Russia will remain a major threat to Europe, RBC-Ukraine reports.
Rutte noted that the war in Ukraine could end as early as the end of 2025, and the Secretary General himself wants "to do everything possible" to help US President Donald Trump “bring to life” the idea of peace in Ukraine.
"I fully share Trump’s vision: this slaughter must stop," he stated.
Rutte also emphasized the losses Russia is suffering. He reminded that over one million Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in Ukraine — and these figures represent only Russia’s irrecoverable losses.
"At the moment, about one million Russians have been killed or severely wounded. Russia is losing around 20,000 soldiers every month. Can you imagine that? Twenty thousand soldiers a month. These are fathers and sons dying while barely gaining any territory," he said.
Rutte further stressed that given such enormous losses, Russia’s territorial gains are extremely questionable. In 2025, Russia captured roughly 1% of Ukraine’s territory — at a huge human cost.
"They have been trying to take Pokrovsk for 18 months and still do not fully control it. More Russians have died trying to take this town than the number of Ukrainians who originally lived there," he summarized.
