NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned on Thursday that a Russian victory in Ukraine would cost trillions of dollars to restore NATO's credibility. Rutte emphasized the need for unwavering Western support for Ukraine and warned against hasty peace negotiations with Russia. Richard Grenell, Trump's new envoy for special missions, criticized allies who talk about continuing the war but don't increase their defense spending.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned on Thursday that a Russia n victory over Ukraine would severely damage the deterrent power of the world's largest military alliance. He emphasized that restoring NATO 's credibility after such a loss would cost trillions of dollars. NATO has been actively strengthening its forces along its eastern flank, deploying thousands of troops and equipment to deter Russia from expanding its war into any of its 32 member countries.
Rutte stressed the importance of unwavering support for Ukraine from its Western allies, stating that the trajectory of the war must be changed and that allowing one country to invade and colonize another in the 21st century is unacceptable. He expressed concern about the possibility of a hasty and unfavorable peace deal with Russia, warning that such an outcome would embolden leaders from countries like North Korea, Iran, and China. Rutte emphasized the need for a credible threat from NATO to avoid war and ensure global security.Richard Grenell, Trump's new envoy for special missions, criticized allies who advocate for continued war but fail to increase their defense spending to NATO guidelines. He argued that the American people find it outrageous that the Biden administration refused to engage in dialogue with Putin. Grenell reiterated the importance of all NATO members fulfilling their financial obligations, stating that asking the American people to expand NATO's umbrella when current members are not contributing fairly is unacceptable. He also defended Trump's stance against engaging with Putin, asserting that communication is essential for problem-solving and that avoiding conversations only exacerbates tensions.Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed Trump's acknowledgement that Russia should initiate peace talks but cautioned against overestimating Putin's willingness to negotiate. Sikorski pointed out that the current Putin is not the same as the one Trump knew during his first term. He stated that Putin is an indicted war criminal for stealing Ukrainian children and that any premature summit would elevate his status and send the wrong message about the conflict's trajectory. Sikorski stressed that Russia, already facing numerous sanctions, should not be rewarded with a summit before demonstrating its commitment to peace.
NATO Russia Ukraine War Mark Rutte Richard Grenell Military Spending Peace Negotiations Vladimir Putin
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