By The White House
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that relations with Russia should eventually be restored once hostilities in Ukraine cease.
“It is reasonable to expect that, as the war comes to an end, both Europe and the United States will gradually work towards normalizing relations with Russia,” Rutte remarked during an interview with Annmarie Hordern on Bloomberg TV. “However, we are far from that point; we must continue to exert pressure on them to ensure that Russia approaches negotiations with sincerity,” he added.
In recent weeks, Rutte has been actively engaged in diplomacy to maintain unity within the transatlantic alliance, particularly as President Donald Trump has reduced support for Ukraine and suggested a withdrawal from the US’s traditional security commitments in Europe. This unexpected shift has prompted European nations to increase their defense budgets and reassess their military strategies.
On Thursday, Rutte met with Trump at the White House, where they discussed the possibility of a US-mediated ceasefire in Ukraine. European nations have felt largely excluded from the negotiation process, a situation that has frustrated many leaders across the continent.
“We must continue to apply pressure to ensure that they are prepared to engage earnestly in discussions with both the American administration and the Ukrainians,” Rutte stated regarding the ongoing negotiations.
Rutte’s primary challenge is to keep the United States actively involved in NATO, especially in light of Trump’s frequent claims that member countries are benefiting from Washington’s support without contributing sufficiently to defense expenditures. Trump has previously threatened to withdraw the US from the military alliance.
Rutte is navigating a delicate balance between the United States, the most significant member of NATO, and Europe, which is facing a more assertive Russia.
Following the televised confrontation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in the Oval Office, Rutte urged the Ukrainian leader to mend their relationship while commending the support the US has provided to Ukraine. In contrast to many of his European counterparts, Rutte refrained from voicing explicit support for Ukraine’s beleaguered president.
Rutte’s strong rapport with Trump has been regarded as one of his key advantages since assuming office. He was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump on his re-election and was also one of the initial visitors to Mar-a-Lago in November. The two established a productive working relationship during Trump’s first term when Rutte served as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Since taking on his role at NATO, Rutte has prioritized enhancing defense investments and increasing military spending, a stance that aligns well with Trump’s views.
At the upcoming summit in June, NATO aims to raise its members’ defense spending target to a minimum of 3 percent. Trump has called for allies to allocate 5 percent of their budgets to defense, a target that is generally regarded as unrealistic and one that even the United States does not currently achieve.
