Rutte Praises Trump for 'Breaking Deadlock' as Path Opens for Putin-Zelensky Summit

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in a statement to Kurdistan24, has hailed a high-stakes diplomatic summit in Washington as a major success, crediting U.S. President Donald Trump with personally breaking a diplomatic impasse to initiate direct dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rutte’s comments came amid a flurry of diplomatic activity that has culminated in arrangements for the first face-to-face meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders since Moscow’s invasion began nearly three and a half years ago.

"I will say this, it was a very successful meeting," Rutte told the head of Kurdistan24's office in Washington, D.C., Rahim Rashidi (Mr. Kurd). "The President really breaking the deadlock, started a conversation with President Putin. He was the only one who could do that." Rutte emphasized the display of transatlantic unity and resolve, referencing a recent NATO summit and increased European defense spending.

"This was a clear signal not only that Europe and the US are united… but also a signal to Moscow that we are serious," he added. The NATO chief noted the importance of recent decisions to continue the flow of lethal weapons to Ukraine and impose secondary sanctions, framing Monday’s talks as a pivotal next step.

"Today was really about security guarantees, the US getting more involved there, and all the details to be hammered out over the coming days, but also to work towards a trilateral between the two presidents, Zelensky and Trump, with President Putin."

The breakthrough followed an extraordinary meeting at the White House on Monday where President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alongside a significant delegation of European leaders, including the heads of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Commission, and NATO.

According to reports from the news agency AFP, the intensive talks quickly led to a tangible diplomatic outcome. Following the meeting, President Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he had called President Putin and "began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelensky." Trump added that a three-way summit involving himself would follow.

Confirming the development, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Putin had agreed to a bilateral meeting within the next two weeks, while a Kremlin aide, as quoted by the TASS news agency, said President Putin was open to the "idea" of direct talks.

French President Emmanuel Macron suggested a neutral venue could host the historic encounter. "It will be (hosted by) a neutral country, maybe Switzerland -- I'm pushing for Geneva -- or another country," Macron said in an interview with French news channel LCI, AFP reported.

For his part, President Zelensky confirmed his willingness to engage directly with his Russian counterpart.

"I confirmed -- and all European leaders supported me -- that we are ready for a bilateral meeting with Putin," Zelensky told reporters in Washington.

The Ukrainian leader, who has faced increasing pressure to make concessions, described his one-on-one session with Trump as their "best" meeting yet, noting he was able to present a clearer picture of the battlefield situation.

The summit’s primary focus, according to European officials, was not on Ukrainian concessions but on establishing robust, long-term security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a peace accord.

Despite the diplomatic progress, deep divisions remain over the core tenets of a potential peace deal, particularly concerning territorial integrity.

Ahead of the summit, President Trump had publicly pressured Ukraine to concede Crimea and abandon its goal of joining NATO. However, European leaders presented a firm counterpoint.

German Chancellor Merz starkly rejected the notion of forcing Ukraine to cede territory, telling reporters, "The Russian demand that Kyiv give up the free parts of Donbas corresponds, to put it bluntly, to a proposal for the United States to have to give up Florida," according to AFP.

President Macron echoed this sentiment, cautioning against the legal recognition of territorial gains made by force, which he warned would open a "Pandora's box." He further stated that France and its allies were prepared to "increase sanctions" against Russia if the diplomatic process is met with refusal from Moscow.

The discussions underscored a unified European and American position that there could be no restrictions on the size of Ukraine's military in a future deal, with all leaders supporting a "robust Ukrainian army that can resist any attempted attack."

As diplomatic advisers prepare to formalize the details of security guarantees in the coming week, the world watches to see if this new diplomatic track can finally pave a path toward ending the protracted conflict.

The head of Kurdistan24's office in Washington, D.C., Rahim Rashidi (Mr. Kurd), contributed to this report.