Trump to Meet NATO Chief Rutte Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict

President Donald Trump is set to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday, just a few days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited the White House.

NATO confirmed on Tuesday that Rutte would be in Washington but didn’t elaborate on the specifics of the visit. It comes in light of Trump expressing a desire to focus on resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, particularly following a ceasefire deal in the Middle East.

In his remarks, Rutte suggested that this visit aims to build on the positive momentum generated by the recent peace agreement in the Middle East. He mentioned, “After the great success in Gaza, I reached out to the president through text, saying we should meet in Washington to discuss how we can make the president’s vision for peace in Ukraine a reality,” while addressing reporters after his meeting with lawmakers.

Rutte expressed confidence in Trump’s ability to navigate this complex situation. “I have full confidence in President Trump. He’s the only one who can achieve this,” he said.

Rutte has made several trips to the White House during Trump’s second term, including visits in July and August after Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. NATO has consistently supported Ukraine since the onset of the Russian invasion, providing military supplies and assistance since 2022.

Back in August, Rutte and other European leaders gathered with Zelenskiy in an attempt to push forward peace negotiations aimed at concluding the war in Ukraine. At that time, Trump indicated that European nations would take on the primary role in ensuring Ukraine’s security against any potential future aggressions from Russia.

As part of these security discussions, Ukraine has expressed a desire to join NATO during its peace talks. However, Trump has continually dismissed the idea. On the other hand, Russia’s demands have historically included a ban on Ukraine joining NATO and the relinquishment of certain territories previously held by Ukraine.

The backdrop of Rutte’s meeting shows Trump appearing hesitant about the U.S. providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, a possibility he had only recently suggested. “Honestly, I’d rather they don’t need the Tomahawk,” he stated. “I truly want the war to end, because we’re working towards that.”

Trump has also readjusted his viewpoint regarding whether Ukraine should surrender any lost territory in a peace agreement. After briefly indicating in September that regaining lost land could be possible for Ukraine, he reverted to his previous stance. “They will be able to negotiate something in the future,” he commented, urging them to halt hostilities, “Stop fighting, stop killing people.”

This shift in tone followed a conversation Trump had with Putin on Thursday. An earlier plan for the two leaders to meet in Budapest this month was abandoned after Secretary of State Marco Rubio conferred with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

A senior official remarked on Tuesday that the Rubio-Lavrov meeting was constructive, suggesting no immediate need for further direct discussions between the Secretary and the Foreign Minister, nor any upcoming meetings between Trump and Putin.

Additionally, Trump seems to have cast doubt on Ukraine’s chances against Russia. “They could still win. I don’t think so, but they could still win,” he mentioned in a recent statement.