NATO chief to Trump: Unfavorable Ukraine peace deal would be ‘dire threat’ to U.S.
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NATO’s secretary general Mark Rutte has warned U.S. president-elect Donald Trump of a “dire security threat” from Russia, North Korea, China and Iran if Ukraine is forced to sign a peace deal that’s more favorable for Moscow, according to an interview with the Financial Times.
“We cannot have a situation where we have Kim Jong Un, the Russian leader [Vladimir Putin], Xi Jinping and Iran high-fiving because we came to a deal which is not good for Ukraine… long term, that will be a dire security threat not only to Europe but also to the U.S.,” Rutte told the FT in his first interview as head of the alliance.
Rutte said he spoke to Trump about the potential threat last month as part of an effort to ensure continued U.S. support for Ukraine. Rutte said he noted the missile technology being sent from Russia into North Korea, “which is posing a dire threat not only to South Korea, Japan, but also to the U.S. mainland.”
“Iran is getting money from Russia in return for missiles, also drone technology. And the money is being used to prop up Hezbollah and Hamas, but also steering conflict beyond the region.”
Rutte also pointed to Chinese President Xi “watching very carefully what comes out of this,” referring to how Beijing may be emboldened to invade Taiwan if Russia seizes more territory in Ukraine.
As for Ukraine’s repeated requests to join NATO, Rutte said boosting military support for Kyiv was more important. This would ensure “that whenever [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy decides to get into peace talks, he can do this from a position of strength.”
Rutte’s statements come as NATO leaders are set to meet on December 3-4 in Brussels. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend the meeting, where he will discuss further military support for Ukraine and the country’s inclusion in the alliance.