US President Donald Trump has no intention of curtailing his country's participation in NATO. In addition, work is underway to make Ukraine even more interoperable with the Alliance. This was stated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in an interview with NV, writes UNN.
Details
"Ukraine was never promised that NATO membership would be part of a peace agreement or a ceasefire. And sometimes I hear Americans say: we don't think NATO membership will be part of a ceasefire or a peace agreement, which contradicts the wording of the Washington Summit. And here I would disagree. I think it is very much in line with the wording of the Washington Summit. These are two separate things: a peace agreement and a long-term perspective," Rutte said.
He also stressed that there is now close cooperation between Ukraine and NATO, in particular through the Analysis, Military Training and Education Centre.
With American help, we are really working together to take command in Wiesbaden, from where all support comes to Ukraine. And we are organising training. Look at the JTAC (Analysis, Military Training and Education Centre) in Poland - a joint organisation of Ukraine and NATO that started operating only three to four weeks ago, and which is taking over all the lessons
Rutte added that work is currently underway to help Ukraine become as compatible as possible with the Alliance. In particular, it concerns the further development of its armed forces.
"And we are also thinking about how best to help Ukraine become even more interoperable with NATO, build up its own armed forces, and reach a hopeful moment of a peace agreement or ceasefire. And let's hope we can achieve that. So we are really working closely together on all these issues," Rutte added.
The Secretary General also denied rumours that Trump allegedly wants to curtail US participation in NATO. He added that it is only a matter of agreeing on certain issues.
"No, on the contrary, yesterday we heard US Secretary of State Marco Rubio say that if NATO didn't exist, we would invent it. I think the US is fully committed to NATO. Their main dissatisfaction with European and Canadian allies is related to insufficient defence spending. But now we are spending much more," Rutte explained.
Addition
Rutte said that NATO countries have assured Ukraine that they will continue to support it, and stressed that "the ball regarding a ceasefire in Ukraine is in Russia's court".
Trump supports NATO, the US wants it to be stronger - Rubio03.04.25, 12:40 • [views_8288]