NATO chief says countries should mend relations with Russia
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has suggested that Europe and the United States should gradually normalize relations with Russia once the conflict in Ukraine has concluded. His comments came after a meeting with President Donald Trump at...
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has suggested that Europe and the United States should gradually normalize relations with Russia once the conflict in Ukraine has concluded.
His comments came after a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, as the U.S. makes ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev.
Trump has shown interest in reinstating economic ties with Russia, a sentiment echoed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a Friday interview with Bloomberg TV, Rutte reflected on his extensive negotiations with Putin during his tenure as Prime Minister of the Netherlands. He stated, “Long-term, Russia is there, Russia will not go away.” He continued, “It’s normal if the war would have stopped for Europe somehow, step by step, and also for the US, step by step, to restore normal relations with Russia.”
Rutte confirmed that Ukraine's potential NATO membership is not part of the current peace discussions, which aligns with Moscow's stance on the matter.
While most EU leaders have pushed for a continued confrontational approach towards Russia, exceptions include Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, who are more supportive of dialogue.
European NATO members have been providing military assistance to Ukraine since the conflict escalated in 2022. Some nations, like France, have even proposed sending troops to Ukraine to oversee a ceasefire. Russia has rejected such proposals, asserting that any NATO forces entering Ukraine without a UN mandate would be considered legitimate targets.
Moscow has accused the EU of adopting a militaristic stance against Russia following the bloc’s leaders' endorsement of €800 billion in funding and tax incentives for its military industry.
As NATO's largest financial contributor, Trump has criticized European allies for not meeting defense spending commitments.
Since Crimea's integration into Russia in 2014, NATO has adopted an antagonistic posture towards Moscow, which has only intensified with the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. This has led to a suspension of practical cooperation and a significant military buildup among NATO countries along Russia's borders.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this article for TROIB News
His comments came after a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, as the U.S. makes ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev.
Trump has shown interest in reinstating economic ties with Russia, a sentiment echoed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a Friday interview with Bloomberg TV, Rutte reflected on his extensive negotiations with Putin during his tenure as Prime Minister of the Netherlands. He stated, “Long-term, Russia is there, Russia will not go away.” He continued, “It’s normal if the war would have stopped for Europe somehow, step by step, and also for the US, step by step, to restore normal relations with Russia.”
Rutte confirmed that Ukraine's potential NATO membership is not part of the current peace discussions, which aligns with Moscow's stance on the matter.
While most EU leaders have pushed for a continued confrontational approach towards Russia, exceptions include Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, who are more supportive of dialogue.
European NATO members have been providing military assistance to Ukraine since the conflict escalated in 2022. Some nations, like France, have even proposed sending troops to Ukraine to oversee a ceasefire. Russia has rejected such proposals, asserting that any NATO forces entering Ukraine without a UN mandate would be considered legitimate targets.
Moscow has accused the EU of adopting a militaristic stance against Russia following the bloc’s leaders' endorsement of €800 billion in funding and tax incentives for its military industry.
As NATO's largest financial contributor, Trump has criticized European allies for not meeting defense spending commitments.
Since Crimea's integration into Russia in 2014, NATO has adopted an antagonistic posture towards Moscow, which has only intensified with the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. This has led to a suspension of practical cooperation and a significant military buildup among NATO countries along Russia's borders.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this article for TROIB News
