Trump allies give Europe’s leaders reality check on Ukraine
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. DAVOS, Switzerland—Allies of President Trump beamed into the World Economic Forum to chide European leaders for their handling of the war in Ukraine, with one top administration official warning that efforts to fold the country into NATO during peace talks with Russia would run into an American “buzz saw." North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary-General Mark Rutte, seated on a white dais flanked by European leaders in a hotel ballroom, kicked off a breakfast in support of Ukraine on the sidelines of the elite gathering Thursday.
He vowed that the country would eventually join the military alliance and argued that negotiations should only begin after Ukraine was in a strong enough position. “If we get a bad [peace] deal, that would only mean that we will see the president of Russia high-fiving with the leaders across North Korea, Iran and China," he said, referring to nations aligned with Moscow.
Making sure Russia would never invade Ukraine must be a key goal, he argued, saying: “Obviously full NATO membership is then the easiest outcome." Richard Grenell, Trump’s envoy for special missions, then appeared on large projector screens around a room filled with Ukrainian officials and troops. He said Americans wouldn’t foot the bill for an expanded bloc while some member states don’t meet defense-spending commitments of 2% of GDP.
“I think you’re going to run into a big buzz saw in America if we have the NATO Secretary-General talking about adding Ukraine to NATO," Grenell said. “The American people are the ones that are paying for the defense.
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