The NATO Secretary General revealed efforts to convince President-elect Donald Trump not to pressure Ukraine into making concessions during peace negotiations with Russia.

"If we push for a deal unfavorable to Ukraine, both Europe and the U.S. will face long-term security risks," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told the Financial Times on December 3. He recounted this message to Trump during their meeting at Mar-a-Lago on November 23.

Rutte expressed concern over growing collaboration among nations the U.S. considers adversaries in relation to the Ukraine conflict. He accused Russia of transferring missile technology to North Korea, heightening threats to South Korea, Japan, and U.S. territories. The NATO chief warned that a peace agreement forcing Kyiv to concede would embolden adversaries like North Korea, Russia, China, and Iran. "They could look at Ukraine’s deal and get ideas for their own actions in the future," he said.

A NATO official disclosed that Rutte sought to convince Trump of the alliance's significant progress over the past four years. European allies, he noted, have substantially improved their military capabilities and defense spending, showing a willingness to share the burden with the U.S.

Rutte, who served as the Netherlands’ prime minister for 14 years, is highly regarded for his skills in negotiating coalitions among political parties. "He’s a master connector, and that’s precisely what he did at Mar-a-Lago," a senior NATO official said, describing Rutte’s diplomatic efforts. Since taking office as NATO Secretary General in October, Rutte has been seen as someone who can work effectively with Trump. In 2018, he played a key role in advocating for NATO members to increase defense spending, successfully persuading Trump to maintain U.S. commitments to transatlantic security.

"We worked very well together. We liked each other a lot when I was prime minister and he was president. I feel that foundation remains intact. We genuinely enjoy working together," Rutte said, reflecting on his meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

The U.S. President-elect has not commented on these discussions.

Trump's election victory has raised concerns in Kyiv and Brussels about the possibility of the U.S. cutting military aid to Ukraine and pressuring the country into peace talks to end the conflict as quickly as possible. Trump has frequently criticized U.S. arms transfers to Ukraine as a "blank check," calling them wasteful and counterproductive to achieving peace.

Trump has also vowed to bring Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table after taking office. According to some sources, Trump’s peace plan may include maintaining the current front-line status quo and temporarily halting Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations for several years.

(According to FT, Washington Post, Kyiv Independent)

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