NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to patch up relations with US President Donald Trump after their heated exchange at the White House on Friday.
During an interview with the BBC on Saturday, Rutte revealed that he told Zelenskyy to "find a way to restore his relationship with the American president" and to "sincerely respect what (US) President (Donald) Trump has done so far for Ukraine."
He mentioned the Trump administration's 2019 move to supply Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, which later proved instrumental in repelling Russian troops during the initial stage of the 2022 invasion.
Despite considering the White House meeting "unfortunate," Rutte assured that Washington stands firmly committed to Ukraine. "I know for a fact that the American administration is deeply invested in ensuring Ukraine achieves a durable peace with Russia," he assured.
European leaders, who will meet in London on Sunday, are likely to debate security guarantees for Ukraine as part of broader moves to create a permanent peace, Rutte said.
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