Rutte makes statement on timing of Ukraine peace deal
Photo: Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump is the only person capable of forcing Russian leader Vladimir Putin to agree to negotiations. At the same time, it is difficult to predict when a peace agreement on Ukraine might actually be reached, said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at a press conference in Berlin, The Guardian reports.
He stressed that Putin had acted as a peacemaker only when it suited him, using it as a way to buy time to continue his war.
"President Trump wants to end the bloodshed now, and he is the only one who can get Putin to the negotiating table. So let's put Putin to the test. Let's see if he really wants peace, or if her prefers the slaughter to continue," Rutte said.
NATO's Secretary General said that "it’s difficult to say" when a peace agreement on Ukraine could be reached. Rutte noted that there are difficult issues involving reconstruction, security guarantees, and territory.
He said the United States and Europe might reach an understanding, but added that he was not sure the same could be expected from Putin.
"I don’t know, this is a test which I also said to my speech – we have to test Putin," Rutte emphasized.
US peace plan
The day before, Trump told reporters that on Wednesday, December 10, he held a phone call with the leaders of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom regarding the situation in Ukraine. He said the conversation was conducted "in pretty strong words."
European leaders informed the US President about the situation in Ukraine. They said that "intensive work on the peace plan" would continue in the coming days.
The next meeting between Starmer, Macron, and Merz is expected to take place on Monday, December 15, in Berlin.
