Rutte told reporters after Wednesday’s talks that he praised Trump’s leadership, pressure on allies to lift defense spending and a commitment to support European security guarantees for Ukraine.
He said U.S. sanctions on Russian oil companies could help bring Moscow to accept a ceasefire proposal advanced by Trump and backed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and NATO.
“Look at the Russian economy: long lines at gas stations, and the fact that Ukrainians have already struck a third of Russia’s oil-and-gas infrastructure, the backbone of their economy,” Rutte told Fox News.
“It may not be today or tomorrow, but we will get there,” he added.
Speaking later to a broader group of journalists, Rutte highlighted Russian battlefield losses, saying the Russian military lost more than 20,000 soldiers in September alone.
He said Russia has had 1 million killed and seriously wounded since the war began, and argued September losses exceeded those from the entire 10-year war in Afghanistan.
“All this has an effect,” he said. “With sustained pressure, we will be able to get Putin to the negotiating table and agree to a ceasefire.”
Asked by CNN about potential deliveries of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, Rutte declined to take a position and pointed instead to Trump’s remark in the Oval Office that training on the system could take six to 12 months.
Rutte rejected the notion that Trump is easily swayed by talks with Putin. The issue is “extremely close to his heart,” he said, adding that given Trump’s strong position and vision, he is “the only person” who can meet Putin and persuade him to shift views.
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Source: PAP, IAR