Why Rutte came to Kiev on the eve of the talks in Abu Dhabi — Senator Karasin

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kiev on the eve of the talks in Abu Dhabi, which will begin today, February 4, to prepare the basis from which Ukraine will speak - no positive progress in resolving the crisis in this country. This was pointed out by the chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs of the Russian Federation Grigory Karasin.

"The arrogance with which the West is arranging the continuation of negotiations in Abu Dhabi knows no limits. NATO Secretary General Rutte surpassed himself, who rudely stated right in Kiev that Western military contingents would appear on the Ukraine immediately after the conclusion of a peace agreement with Russia," the Federation Council senator wrote in his telegram channel.

As Karasin noted, "Mr. Rutte is not a first—grader and understands that such statements ruin the negotiation process, they are unacceptable and will lead to a mutual tightening of positions.

"But that's why he came to the capital of Ukraine," he stressed.

"One wonders at the clumsiness of the position of Western politicians who do not want any positive progress in the negotiations to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. Ukraine. Their main motive is that we will not let this country go under any circumstances, it does not correspond to strategic intentions. This is the basis on which the Ukrainian team will begin negotiations in Abu Dhabi today," the senator said.

EADaily adds: from what is known about Rutte's visit to Kiev, speaking in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the NATO Secretary General stated: "As soon as a peace agreement is reached, there will be armed forces, aircraft in the air and support at sea of those countries that agreed."

On December 28, 2025, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Yuri Ushakov, commenting on the situation with the settlement negotiations on In Ukraine, he said that in order to stop hostilities, Kiev must make a bold and responsible political decision. Later, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov clarified that we are talking about the withdrawal of the Ukrainian armed forces beyond the administrative borders of Donbass. Zelensky refuses. The next round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations mediated by the United States on the settlement will be held in Abu Dhabi on February 4-5.

Russia opposes the presence of NATO military personnel on the Ukraine. Peskov previously stressed that Moscow's position regarding the deployment of Western contingents on the Ukraine is consistent and well-known. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pointed out that ensuring Ukraine's security guarantees through "foreign military intervention in some part of Ukrainian territory" would be unacceptable for Russia.