NATO Secretary General shares his thoughts on Trump’s peace efforts regarding Ukraine
Photo: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Getty Images)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, during his visit to Odesa on April 15, expressed support for US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts, despite the difficult negotiations with Ukraine and Russia, he made this statement at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Rutte noted that during his visit to Ukraine today, he and President Zelenskyy discussed the important negotiations that President Trump is conducting with both Ukraine and Russia in an effort to end the war and secure a lasting peace.
"These discussions are not easy – not least in the wake of this horrific violence (the strike on the center of Sumy on April 13 — ed.) — but we all support President Trump’s push for peace," Rutte emphasized.
The NATO Secretary General added that other members of the Alliance, including through efforts led by France and the United Kingdom, are ready, willing, and able to take on greater responsibility in helping to ensure peace when the time comes.
Rutte’s visit to Ukraine
On April 15, the NATO Secretary General arrived in Ukraine on an unannounced visit. According to Rutte himself, he and President Zelenskyy visited the city of Odesa.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy shared a video showing him and Rutte visiting a hospital where Ukrainian defenders are recovering from their injuries. There, they spoke with the service members and presented them with awards.
Trump on the war and peace negotiations
The US President recently stated that negotiations between the US, Ukraine, and Russia on ending the war "are going okay, and people will find out about it soon."
"“I think Ukraine-Russia might be going OK. And you’re going to be finding out pretty soon. You know, there’s a point at which you have to either put up or shut up. We’ll see what happens, but I think it’s going fine," Trump said.
He made this statement after his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited St. Petersburg on April 11 and held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Later, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former US President Joe Biden "did a terrible job by allowing the war to start." A few hours later, Trump stated that he now believes "three people are to blame" for Russia’s war against Ukraine. This time, he also placed blame on Putin.
