Only the US President, Donald Trump, can persuade the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, to accept peace in Ukraine. The statement was made by NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, in an interview published on Sunday, December 21, by the German publication “Bild am Sonntag”.
Mark Rutte appreciated the efforts made by the White House leader to end the war triggered by Russia, which has been going on for almost four years. “Trump is deeply involved in this issue. He is focused on the goal of ending this war”, the head of the North Atlantic Alliance declared, according to DW.
“The withdrawal of US troops from Europe is not discussed”
According to Rutte, the American president is the only one who managed to bring Putin to the negotiating table and the only one who, ultimately, can persuade him to accept peace. “I have great respect for him for this“, Mark Rutte stated.
The NATO chief added that, in case of an emergency, the Alliance can rely on the support of the United States: “The US has clearly stated that they will remain in Europe – both in terms of nuclear and conventional. The withdrawal of troops from Europe is not discussed“.
At the same time, the European community is fulfilling its commitments to significantly increase defense spending, assumes responsibility for Ukraine within the “Coalition of the Willing” and strengthens NATO’s eastern flank, the head of the North Atlantic Alliance further said.
Rutte also dismissed fears that the US might cease support for Kiev. “I do not consider this possible at all. Currently, we see that the exchange of information and the delivery of weapons to Ukraine continue“, he added.
Mark Rutte gave a programmatic speech in Berlin
Previously, Mark Rutte visited Berlin against the backdrop of an active phase of US negotiations on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. In a speech given on December 11, the NATO Secretary General proposed to analyze the consequences in case Kiev would lose the war. “We are Russia’s next target“, he warned.
In such a scenario, the threat of a Russian Federation attack on NATO would increase, and the Russian army could be prepared for this by 2030, Rutte also said. Under these conditions, NATO would have to deploy on the eastern flank not just isolated brigades, as at present, but much larger formations.
The Secretary General even compared this possible scenario to that of the Second World War: “We must be prepared for the type of war that our grandparents and great-grandparents experienced“.