Russia Controls Part of Ukraine's Territory, Says Ruiten

Russia controls part of Ukraine's territory. This should be a factual recognition, not a de jure political acknowledgment. This was stated by NATO Secretary General Mark Ruiten in an interview with ABC.

“The meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska will be a test for Putin to see how serious he is about ending this terrible war. It concerns Ukrainian territory. It is, of course, about security guarantees, but also about the absolute necessity to recognize that Ukraine must determine its own future, that Ukraine should be a sovereign state deciding its own geopolitical future, certainly without any limitations regarding the size of its armed forces. And for NATO—without any limitations on our presence in the eastern flank.

The question is how to act after a ceasefire, including what this means in terms of security guarantees for Ukraine. When it comes to this entire territorial issue, for example, in a future agreement, the recognition that Russia factually controls part of Ukraine's territory must be an acknowledgment, not a de jure political recognition,” Ruiten stated.