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February 21, 2025 | 09:33 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated on Thursday that any security assurance for Ukraine provided by European countries necessitates the backing of the United States.
"Strong security guarantees, if provided by European countries, need a backup by the United States," Rutte said in his speech at Comenius University in Slovakia as quoted by Anadolu.
The former Prime Minister of the Netherlands also reiterated that the U.S. does not oppose the suggestion for Britain deploying troops in Ukraine. However, he added that Washington does not intend to deploy its troops on the ground.
Rutte also reaffirmed his "optimism" about U.S. President Donald Trump's peace initiative for Ukraine, adding that U.S. backup would "make it possible for European countries to help there".
He stated the importance of ensuring the peace agreement remains "sustainable" and "enduring."
Tensions have risen in U.S.-Europe relations following Trump's initiation of direct discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine peace talks, without the involvement of European leaders.
During the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, Keith Kellogg, as Trump's special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, asserted that European nations would not be included in the planned U.S.-Russia discussions on peace in Ukraine.
Adding to the growing tension, U.S. Defense Minister Pete Hegseth suggested that European countries, rather than the U.S., should provide peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.
He emphasized that such deployment should be conducted outside of NATO and would not be covered by Article 5 of the NATO collective defense clause. Hegseth stressed that U.S. forces would not be involved in any security assurance.
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