'Only Trump can get it right': NATO chief Rutte praises the US president's efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine

Before his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday (October 22), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte downplayed concerns about friction between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following their tense White House talks last week. Rutte said his meeting with Trump was planned in advance and would focus on “delivering his vision on peace in Ukraine.” ‘Meeting was already planned’ When asked by Sky News if his visit indicated that Trump’s meeting with Zelensky was a “total disaster”, Rutte dismissed the suggestion. “No, not at all. It was already planned before,” he said. He added that he had been in contact with Trump following what he called “the enormous success in Gaza”. “We said let’s hold a meeting in Washington to discuss how we can now deliver his vision on peace in Ukraine,” Rutte explained, describing the Trump-Zelensky meeting as “a good meeting” and “successful.” ‘Only Trump can get it right’ Rutte praised Trump’s leadership on Ukraine and said the NATO alliance had been “renewed and strengthened” since he returned to office in January. He credited Trump with “breaking the deadlock” with Russian President Vladimir Putin after their phone conversation in February. “I have full confidence in President Trump, and he is the only one who can do it,” Rutte said when asked if Putin had persuaded Trump to soften his stance on Russia. “Trump’s leadership here is crucial. He clearly provides that and he needs to engage with all the leaders. He needs to engage with Putin, he needs to engage with Zelensky,” he added. Trump-Zelensky meeting ends without arms deal Trump hosted Zelensky at the White House last Friday, but the talks – described by a senior Ukrainian official as “tense” – ended without an announcement on the supply of Tomahawk missiles to Kiev. Speaking in Oslo on Wednesday, Zelensky said he supported Trump’s proposal to use the current front line as a basis for talks with Moscow, but doubted Russian cooperation. “Trump suggested ‘Stay where we are and start a conversation,'” Zelensky said. “I think it was a good compromise, but I’m not sure that Putin will support it, and I told the president that.” Putin meeting scrapped Trump was expected to meet Putin in Budapest in the coming weeks, but has since postponed the meeting. A White House official confirmed that there were “no plans for President Trump to meet with President Putin in the immediate future.” Trump, who has emphasized his personal relationship with Putin as key to reaching a peace deal, has reportedly grown frustrated with the Russian leader’s reluctance to make concessions. Key takeaways: -Rutte says his Washington meeting with Trump was planned before the Trump-Zelensky talks. -NATO chief praises Trump’s leadership, says only he can deliver peace in Ukraine. -Trump’s meeting with Zelensky ended without an arms deal. -Putin meeting postponed amid growing uncertainty over negotiations.