"Russia has no say or veto over who can be a NATO member," Rutte told Spanish media outlet El Pais.
"But within the Alliance, membership requires unanimity," adding that several NATO allies, including the United States, oppose Kyiv's entry.
Rutte's remarks came amid a week of intense diplomacy, after the United States reinvigorated peace talks with a controversial 28-point plan widely viewed as favoring Russia.
Moscow has long claimed that NATO expansion forced it into war, although Ukraine is not a NATO member.
"When you look at the peace plan (we) want to ensure that Putin never tries to attack Ukraine again," Rutte said.
Regardless of how current peace efforts unfold, Rutte believes that "Russia will remain a long-term threat for a long time.".
Rutte stressed that "a peace plan does not change the assessment of Russia as a long-term threat to Europe. »