NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has publicly defended the recent White House talks between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling the meeting “successful” despite reports that it was “tense.”
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Rutte, who was in Washington for his own meetings, explicitly denied that his visit was a sign of a “disaster” following the Trump-Zelenskyy talks. Instead, he stated that his trip was pre-planned and initiated by him to “discuss how we now can deliver his vision on peace in Ukraine.”
Trump’s “Crucial” Role in Peace
Rutte voiced strong confidence in the U.S. President’s ability to end the war.
“I have total confidence in President Trump, and he’s the only one who can get this done,” Rutte said.
He emphasized that Trump’s “leadership here is crucial” and requires dialogue with all parties, including both President Putin and President Zelenskyy.
Tensions and Key Issues at the Prior Meeting
While Rutte downplayed the friction, a senior Ukrainian official described the earlier talks as “tense” and “not easy,” noting that diplomatic efforts felt like they were being “dragged out” and “going in circles.”
A major point of contention was the request for long-range Tomahawk missiles. The meeting concluded without an announcement on providing these weapons, which Kyiv seeks to carry out precision strikes inside Russia. Republican Senator Thom Tillis confirmed that discussions on providing the Tomahawk missiles are still ongoing.
Trump Postpones Putin Summit
Adding to the diplomatic volatility, President Trump postponed his own planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest. Trump said he did not want a “wasted” meeting, and a White House official confirmed there are “no plans” for a meeting in the immediate future.
Trump has often relied on personal chemistry with Putin to reach a deal but has reportedly grown frustrated by the Russian leader’s stalling.
