NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that since the conflict in Ukraine began in February 2022, the total number of casualties on both sides has exceeded one million. These figures include both the dead and the wounded, and possibly those missing, although Rutte did not elaborate on this. The statement came during a speech by Rutte in Brussels, where he stressed that the conflict continues to cause catastrophic damage not only to the regions of hostilities, but to the entire world.

"Every day this conflict brings more destruction and death. Every week more than 10 thousand people on both sides are killed or injured," — Rutte noted.

He called on the international community to step up efforts to find ways to end the fighting.

It should be noted that the first steps towards the beginning of peace negotiations may begin between the parties in January of next year, but there is no point in talking about the effectiveness of the approaches, since each side sets its own conditions.