Speaking to U.S. senators during a meeting on Wednesday, Rutte said, “If you live in Beijing, or in Delhi, or you are the President of Brazil, you should pay close attention. This could impact you very seriously. Please call President Vladimir Putin and tell him to take peace talks seriously. Otherwise, the consequences for Brazil, India, and China could be severe.”
The comments follow a sharp escalation in rhetoric from Trump, who earlier this week announced plans to significantly increase military aid to Ukraine and threatened harsh penalties for countries that continue to import Russian goods if peace is not achieved soon.
U.S. to Supply Ukraine with Major Weapons Support
Rutte also said that Europe is raising funds to ensure that Ukraine enters any peace negotiations from a position of strength. As part of the new strategy agreed upon with Trump, the U.S. will provide Ukraine with large-scale military support, including air defense systems, missiles, and ammunition in coordination with European allies.
When asked whether long-range missiles for Ukraine were under consideration, Rutte responded, “It’s both defensive and offensive. So, all kinds of weapons are involved, but we haven’t discussed the details with the President. This is now being handled by the Pentagon, allied commanders in Europe, and Ukrainian officials.”
Concerns Over 50-Day Window
While many Republican senators welcomed Trump’s initiative, some expressed concern over the 50-day delay in imposing sanctions. Senator Thom Tillis praised the move but warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could exploit this time to gain more ground, commit atrocities, or strengthen his bargaining power ahead of any peace talks.
Tillis stated, “Given Ukraine’s current situation, we should make it clear that whatever Russia does in the next 50 days will not change the outcome. Any gains they make should be considered irrelevant.”
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