Rutte: Issue of Ukraine's accession to NATO removed from negotiating table

[oil&gas]

14.03.2025

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Ukraine's accession to the Alliance is no longer under consideration. He made this statement in an interview with Bloomberg TV's Annemarie Gordern on Friday.

Rutte was asked whether Trump had really removed the issue of Ukraine's accession to NATO from the negotiating table. To this he answered in the affirmative "Yes."

Rutte also welcomed Trump's peacemaking efforts and said that NATO would benefit from him putting Europe in charge of its own defense. According to the secretary general, "Trump is fully committed to the Alliance."

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said relations with Russia "should eventually be normalized" once the fighting ends in Ukraine. "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 said in an interview on Bloomberg TV Friday.

Bloomberg notes that Rutte has engaged in intense diplomacy in recent weeks to hold the transatlantic alliance together as President Donald Trump has scaled back support for Ukraine and signaled that the United States will retreat from its traditional security role in Europe. The surprise move has prompted European countries to boost defense spending and reassess their military posture.

Rutte met with Trump on Thursday at the White House, where they discussed a potential U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Ukraine. Europe has been largely sidelined from the talks, a fact that has angered many European leaders.

Rutte: Issue of Ukraine's accession to NATO removed from negotiating table

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Ukraine's accession to the Alliance is no longer under consideration. He made this statement in an interview with Bloomberg TV's Annemarie Gordern on Friday.

en.interfax.com.ua

 

[oil&gas]

NATO chief opens door to restoring Russia relations after Ukraine war

“But we are absolutely not there yet,” defense chief says a day after talks with U.S. President Trump.

MARCH 14, 2025
CSONGOR KÖRÖMI

Europe and the United States should eventually normalize relations with Russia once the fighting in Ukraine ends, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said.

“It’s normal if the war would have stopped for Europe somehow, step by step, and also for the U.S., step by step, to restore normal relations with Russia," Rutte said in an interview with Bloomberg on Friday.

However, the defense chief added that the alliance must keep up the pressure on Moscow to ensure they engage seriously in ongoing ceasefire negotiations.

"We are absolutely not there yet," he said, referring to any normalization of relations. “That's why we have the sanctions. Let's not be naive about the Russians. But in the longer term, Russia is there, and Russia will not go away.”

Rutte's statement comes a day after he met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, where the two discussed the U.S.'s plan for a ceasefire in Ukraine, more than three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

The NATO chief declined to comment on the feasibility of the 30-day ceasefire plan, but called it a "very smart plan" and said he's "happy" with the developments.

"The Trump administration, the president himself, broke the deadlock in this war because he started to engage with the Russians. I think that's positive for the Ukrainians.

"The U.S. administration is now in dialogue with the Russians to see where they stand on this, and this will be a step-by-step approach. But this is literally developing over the next couple of hours and days, so it’s very difficult to predict when that will happen,” he said.

Rutte added that while "there are many ways" to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, "it would be difficult for NATO to get involved [as NATO]."

The secretary-general said his Oval Office conversation with Trump was "very positive," as Rutte felt an "absolutely clear commitment" to the defense alliance from the U.S. president.

NATO chief opens door to restoring Russia relations after Ukraine war

“But we are absolutely not there yet,” defense chief says a day after talks with U.S. President Trump.

www.politico.eu

 

[oil&gas]

I had thought Europe was going to pay a dear price for its support
of the Ukraine after the war. It turns out I could be wrong. It now looks
like EU or at least some of its members will make nice with Russia
post-war. Bravo President Trump. Keep up the good work and you will
emerge as the peacemaker who save Europe's assess though they will
still call you Putin's poodle.

On a related note is there a way we can recoup all the billions
worth of aid Trudeau gifted Zelensky?

 

[oil&gas]

Just to refresh your memory, this is how the loser of the war
was duped by NATO to send hundreds of thousands of his people
to their doom all for destruction of a large part of his country.

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NATO chief Mark Rutte says Ukraine's membership path is 'irreversible'
October 3, 2024

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Thursday, where he offered assurances on Kyiv's bid to join the military alliance and support for its efforts to fend off Russia's invasion.

While there are differing opinions within the 32-member alliance on Ukraine's bid to join, Rutte on Thursday reiterated that its path to membership is "irreversible" and can't be impacted by Russia.

"Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before," he said. "And will continue on this path until you become a member of our Alliance. I very much look forward to that day."

Rutte pointed to $44.1 billion in military assistance members have pledged to provide to Ukraine within a year and security agreements members have signed with Ukraine individually are "basically building the bridge to NATO membership for Ukraine.

"And I think the day will come that Ukraine is a full member of NATO," he said. "And let me add to that, if somebody might think otherwise, that Russia on this issue has no vote and no veto."

During a surprise Ukraine visit Thursday met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and told reporters Ukraine's NATO membership path is irreversible. He pledged $44.1 billion per year of NATO military aid.

Zelensky urged NATO to jointly intercept Russian missiles attacking Ukraine as U.S. allies have done with Iranian missiles heading for Israel.

"Jointly intercepting Iranian missiles is no different from jointly intercepting Russian missiles, and especially 'Shaheds,' which link the Russian and Iranian regimes," Zelensky said.

Rutte said the decision to shoot down drones and missiles targeting allied territories are "for the national authorities" to make themselves.

"NATO has already significantly reinforced its air defenses on the eastern flank. And we recognize fully the rights of every ally to protect its own airspace," he said.

Zelensky has also repeatedly called for Western allies to allow use of long-range weapons to strike deeper within Russia, which he has said will allow Ukraine to more effectively blunt Russian attacks.

Rutte said it would be up to each ally to decide whether to allow use of long-range weapons into Russia.

"The only country here that has crossed a red line is not Ukraine, it is Russia, by starting this war," Rutte said.

"Ukraine obviously has the right to defend itself, and international law here is on the side of Ukraine, meaning that this right does not end at the border. And Russia is pursuing this illegal war, and that means that targeting Russian fighter jets and missiles before they can be used against Ukraine's civilian infrastructure can help save lives."

Rutte said NATO understands Ukraine needs more help against the Russian invasion and occupation.

"We know the need is urgent. And we are working hard to do more, and more quickly. In the last few weeks, several allies announced further military aid for Ukraine," he said. "Including new contributions from Denmark, from Latvia, the United Kingdom, and nearly $8 billion of assistance from the United States."

During his Ukraine visit Rutte said NATO is setting up a command to coordinate the provision of security assistance and training to help ensure Ukraine gets what it needs to defend itself against Russia.

Ukraine allies are meeting Oct. 12 in Ramstein, Germany for consultations with Ukraine on war support against Russia.

NATO chief Mark Rutte says Ukraine's membership path is 'irreversible'

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Thursday, where he offered assurances on Kyiv's bid to join the military alliance and support for its efforts to fend off Russia's invasion.

www.yahoo.com

 

[oil&gas]

Move evidence to support Zelensky was intentionally deceived
by NATO-Europe to be the dupe he was and still is. Z will either
have to fight on or be abandoned.

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NATO's Rutte says that Ukraine was never promised NATO membership
3/02/2025

Leaders had never promised to Ukraine that it would become a NATO member if it forged a peace deal with Russia, the chief of the Western military alliance, Mark Rutte, told reporters on Thursday.

NATO's Rutte says that Ukraine was never promised NATO membership

www.france24.com