NATO Chief Dismisses Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting Disaster Claims

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has dismissed concerns that the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was a failure, describing it instead as a successful and constructive discussion focused on achieving peace in Ukraine. Rutte expressed strong confidence in President Trump's leadership, emphasizing that Trump is uniquely positioned to engage with both Vladimir Putin and Zelensky to broker peace. This stance comes amid ongoing deliberations in the US Congress about supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, which Ukraine sees as crucial for precision strikes inside Russia. Meanwhile, military analysts note that Trump's recent shift, possibly influenced by a call with Putin, has strained US-Ukraine relations and hinted at a potential divergence between US and European approaches to the conflict. Despite these complexities, Rutte highlighted that NATO has been revitalized under Trump's presidency and that the diplomatic efforts continue, with peace talks planned in Budapest. The situation underscores the delicate balance of strategic dialogue involving the three leaders amid continued military actions by both Ukraine and Russia.