Rutte outlines NATO's step-by-step plan for Russia relations

• Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, emphasized in an interview with Bloomberg TV that after the end of the war in Ukraine, relations with Russia should be restored "step by step."
• Rutte is conducting intense diplomacy to maintain the unity of the transatlantic alliance, especially in the face of reduced U.S. support for Ukraine.
• NATO plans to increase defence spending to at least 3% of GDP at the next summit in June.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized in an interview with Bloomberg TV that after the end of the military actions in Ukraine, relations with Russia should be gradually normalized. - It’s normal if the war would have stopped for Europe somehow, step by step, and also for the US, step by step, to restore normal relations with Russia, he said.

The NATO chief, however, noted that it is currently necessary to maintain pressure on Russia to take negotiations seriously. - But we are absolutely not there yet, we have to maintain the pressure on them, he indicated.

Rutte is conducting intense diplomatic efforts to maintain the alliance's unity, especially in the face of reduced U.S. involvement in Europe. President Donald Trump signalled that the U.S. might withdraw from its traditional role as a security guarantor in Europe, forcing European countries to increase their defence spending. Rutte met with Trump at the White House, where the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine was discussed.

NATO plans to increase defence spending to at least 3% of GDP at the next Alliance summit in June, Rutte confirmed. He emphasised that NATO must ensure that we can defend ourselves, and at the moment we cannot defend ourselves alone.

The NATO Secretary General additionally admitted that Ukraine's accession to the Alliance is not currently being considered.