Speaking to Ukraine's parliament, Rutte stressed it is crucial "that any peace lasts".
"For that, in addition to strong armed forces, Ukraine needs robust security guarantees," the NATO secretary general told Ukrainian lawmakers.
Rutte said that Europe, the United States and Canada were ready to provide Ukraine with the security guarantees it needs to secure a peace with Russia.
He added that some European allies are prepared to deploy troops, aircraft and naval forces after a deal is reached, with Washington serving as the backstop.
"The security guarantees are solid, and this is crucial – because we know that getting to an agreement to end this terrible war will require difficult choices," Rutte noted.
The visit came hours after Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine, firing more than 450 drones and 70 missiles overnight, targeting energy infrastructure in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro.
In a post on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the NATO chief for his visit, saying it had taken place on a day when "Russia carried out a record strike in terms of the use of ballistic missiles".
As temperatures plunged to minus 20°C, Moscow launched combined missile and drone attacks that dealt the most powerful blow of the year to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving over 1,000 Kyiv apartment blocks without heating.
Rutte acknowledged that US President Donald Trump and his team "are determined to stop the bloodshed, with the support of America’s Allies", but said Russia's continued attacks show a lack of serious peace intentions.
"We know Russia is paying a heavy price for this war with over one million casualties to date and rising."
The NATO chief told parliament that the alliance's PURL weapons purchasing programme is supplying "75 percent of all missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot batteries and 90 percent of the missiles used in other air defence systems".
"NATO stands with and supports Ukraine – today and in the years to come, not only because we share common values, but because our security is interlinked."
Meanwhile, a new round of trilateral peace talks between Ukraine, the United States and Russia is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in Abu Dhabi, while NATO defence ministers are set to meet in Brussels next week to discuss the war.
According to officials in Kyiv, the main obstacle in the peace talks is an ultimatum from Russia calling on Ukraine to hand over the whole of the Donbas region.
(ał)
Source: PAP, IAR, Reuters