Trump will test Putin, says Rutte

“On Friday, it is important to see how serious Putin is, and the only one who can do that is President Trump,” Rutte said.

Rutte responded that when it comes to discussing territory, security guarantees, peace talks, and further steps, Ukraine must and will be involved, CBS News reported.

“It is very important that the meeting takes place. It will not be a final decision on this issue,” Rutte said, noting that Trump had effectively broken the deadlock and calling it a decisive step.

Rutte thanked Trump for allowing the delivery of American weapons to Ukraine, which he said “opened the floodgates,” and praised the planned secondary sanctions against some of the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India.

He said that NATO-coordinated arms deliveries would continue regardless of what happened at Friday's meeting, emphasizing the commitment to ensure that Ukraine had everything it needed to continue fighting and was in the best possible position when the time came to negotiate a ceasefire or peace agreement.

Regarding the possibility of these talks beginning, Rutte said that Friday's meeting is an attempt by President Trump to see if Putin is serious.

“If he's not serious, then that's the end of it. If he is serious, then from Friday onwards, the process will continue — Ukraine will be involved, Europeans will be involved,” Rutte said.

Photo: OP.