LOS ANGELES.–NATO’s 57-year-old new Secretary-General Mark Rutte showed he’s more political than his 65-year-old predecessor Jens Stoltenberg, repeating Ukraine’s 46-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky’s talking point about continuing the Ukraine War. Rutte talks like he’s working for the Kiev government, saying 78-year-old President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to end the war would create “high fiving” at the Kremlin. What in the world is Rutte talking that way about Trump, when he just won the U.S. presidential election? President Joe Biden, 82, who backed Ukraine’s war against the Kremlin, is on his way out. Rutte certainly knows that the American people voted for Trump to change directions in Ukraine, finding a political solution to the nearly three year old war. Trump seeks nothing but death and destruction to Ukraine continuing the war.
Rutte said that Ukraine must get a “good deal,” whatever that means, probably that it would not have to swap land-for-peace, something that will obviously happen in any political settlement. Rutte acts like he’s ready to commit NATO troops to battling the Russian Federation, something that he’s no not prepared to do, nor would NATO members accept such madness. Rutte tried in the strongest possible way to influence Trump’s position on continuing the conflict until 72-year-old Russian President Vladimir Putin withdraws all his troops from Ukraine. Since that’s not happening anytime soon, Rutte is in no position to dictate U.S. foreign policy, whether he’s sympathetic to Ukraine. Even U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer admitted the war would end in a political settlement. Rutte is already getting himself into hot water, opposing Trump’s plans to settle the conflict.
Rutte has a lot of nerve saying what Trump should do with the Ukraine War. U.S. spent $860 billion or 68% of NATO’s total $1.2 trillion defense budget. What right does Rutte have to take sides with Zelensky on what Trump, with a national mandate, should do about the Ukraine War? “We cannot have a situation where we have Kim Jong-up and the Russian leader and Xi Jinping and Iran high-fiving because we came to a deal which is not good for Ukraine,” Rutte said, stepping out of line. Rutte, as Secretary-General, doesn’t unilaterally set NATO policy, that’s up to a consensus from all of its 32 members. Not one of its members would accept going to war with Russia because Rutte says it’s not a good deal for Ukraine. No one told Zelensky to go to war with the Kremlin. Whatever losses Ukraine sustains, it’s Zelensky’s decision, not NATO’s to second guess.
Rutte starts out on the exact wrong foot especially because without the U.S., NATO would not exist on its own. If Trump decides in the U.S. and NATO’s best interest to settle the Ukraine conflict, regardless of the sacrifices to Ukraine, then it’s not for Rutte to complain, but to implement U.S. plans. Rutte said he met with Trump and warned him about an abrupt end to the Ukraine War. “The fact that Iran, North Korea, China and Russia are working so closely together . . .[means] these various parts of the world where conflict is . . . are more and more getting connected, “ Rutte said. Rutte knows that Biden’s failed Ukraine policy pushed Russia, China, North Korea and Iran into an economic, military and strategic alliance. Biden’s foreign policy pushed U.S. adversaries into joining together because Biden opted to fund proxy war against the Kremlin.
Rutte has no power or authority to dictate U.S. foreign policy, even if he sympathizes with Zelensky’s dilemma that Russian now controls some 20-25% of Ukraine’s best sovereign territory on the Black Sea coast. Zelensky opted Feb. 24, 2022 to opt for war with the Kremlin, not settle the conflict at the peace table. Putin offered after invading Ukraine to settle the conflict if Zelensky recognized Russian sovereignty over Crimean and accept independence of Donetsk and Luhansk. Zelensky said no and started his war with the Kremlin. Biden decided to fund the war and arm Ukraine resulting in three years of death and destruction. Trump wants to end the bloodshed and get Ukraine the best deal possible to end the war. It’s not up to Rutte to decide what’s a good deal for Ukraine or not. Rutte knows the rules and war and Putin has right to hold on to seized Ukrainian territory.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is out line telling Trump what he should do to end the Ukraine War. American people voted to have the war ended, as Trump promised, on Day One, if it’s possible. But as to Rutte thinking that he wants to give Ukraine the best possible negotiating position, it’s out of his pay grade. Only Trump, as commander-in-chief, can decide what’s best for America. NATO’s Secretary-General should not repeat Zelensky’s talking points, certainly not the recent ones about Russia, China, North Korea and Iran forming an economic, military and strategic alliance. If that happened, it’s because of Biden’s failed foreign policy, not something related only to the Ukraine War. Trump is right to end the conflict and let Zelensky cut its losses. But Trump has every right to tell Zelensky the U.S. will not subsidize the bankrupt Kiev government and war with Russia.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
