Speaking to the BBC on Saturday, Rutte revealed that he advised Zelenskyy to “find a way to restore his relationship with the American president” and to “really respect what (US) President (Donald) Trump has done so far for Ukraine.”
He pointed to the Trump administration’s 2019 decision to supply Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, a move that later proved critical in countering Russian forces during the initial stages of the 2022 invasion.
Describing the White House meeting as “unfortunate,” Rutte sought to reassure that Washington remains committed to Ukraine. “I knew as a fact that the American administration is extremely invested in making sure that Ukraine gets to a durable peace” with Russia, he said.
European leaders, who are set to meet in London on Sunday, are expected to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine as part of broader efforts to secure a lasting peace, Rutte added.
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