NATO leader comments on Trump potentially rewarding Russia for its invasion of Ukraine: ‘I believe the risk isn’t present’

NATO Secretary-General Mark Latte stated on Sunday that he believes peace discussions in Alaska, involving President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, do not pose a risk of rewarding Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl expressed concerns that the negotiations might be tilting in favor of Russia, a sentiment echoed by former national security adviser John Bolton.

“No, I don’t think there’s a risk,” Latte responded. “I have great respect for John, truly, but I don’t agree with him on this. I’ve witnessed President Trump exert significant pressure on Russia.”

Latte added, “This demonstrates that President Trump is genuinely committed to ending this conflict while maintaining maximum pressure on Putin.” He explained that the meeting scheduled for Friday is a way to gauge Putin’s seriousness, emphasizing that Ukraine needs to be included in this resolution process.

The planned discussions in Alaska won’t include Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky; however, both the White House and NATO ambassador Matthew Whitaker mentioned that he might attend.

Bolton, speaking on CNN, remarked, “The only place better for Putin than Alaska would be if this summit were held in Moscow.” He implied that the initial arrangements favor Putin significantly.

On August 6, Trump issued an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on Russian oil imports in India, raising the total tariffs to 50%. These tariffs are set to take effect 21 days post-signing, as a means for India to negotiate with Russia. Nonetheless, Indian leaders have reaffirmed their strong ties to the Kremlin.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commented, “We’ve also looked at our bilateral agenda and confirmed our commitment to deepen our special strategic partnership with Russia. We look forward to welcoming President Putin later this year.”

Latte also highlighted Trump’s actions in international forums as proof of his commitment to achieving a peace agreement. “He was notably successful at the NATO summit, securing a 5% spending commitment in June, which has been one of the biggest foreign policy victories for the U.S. in recent times,” he noted.

Latte mentioned an agreement made by the Trump administration and NATO allies in July to supply more arms to Ukraine.

The meeting in Alaska is set to address territorial claims. Last week, Putin shared a ceasefire proposal with the Trump administration, focusing on control of eastern Ukraine.

Zelensky firmly rejected the proposal, asserting that a decision made without Ukraine’s involvement is inherently a decision against peace.

Latte emphasized that the negotiations will cover territorial discussions, “security guarantees,” and the critical need for acknowledging Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Whitaker expressed relief on Sunday that both countries appear committed to peace, regardless of the transactions unfolding between them.