(NewsNation) — The head of NATO on Thursday commended President Donald Trump‘s efforts to bring about a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met at the White House on Thursday as initial reports came in of Russian President Vladimir Putin agreeing in principle with a 30-day ceasefire.
“Hopefully they’ll do the right thing,” Trump said, referring to Russia.
Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East, was scheduled to meet with Putin in Russia on Thursday night, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to NewsNation.
Thursday’s discussion with Rutte comes days after Trump called on European allies to contribute more to the alliance’s defense fund. Trump has publicly called for other countries to give up to 5% of their GDP.
Trump has made it clear that he wants NATO countries to pay much more than the 2% commitment that was decided upon more than a decade ago. In 2024, an estimated 23 of 32 countries were projected to meet that goal.
Rutte, who served as prime minister of the Netherlands during Trump’s first term, has also supported increasing NATO members’ funding expectations.
“Our mindset has to be that we are willing to protect every inch of NATO territory … If we would stick to the 2%, we cannot defend ourselves in four or five years. We have to spend more,” Rutte said during a Feb. 12 news conference.
Last week, Trump suggested that the U.S. should not have to defend NATO allies, which he believes has not contributed enough to defense spending.
Elon Musk, one of Trump’s top advisers, said in a social media post that the U.S. should withdraw from NATO altogether and refuse to fund Europe’s defense.
The United States typically spends around 3% of its GDP on defense, meaning a major increase in Pentagon funding would be needed for the nation to meet Trump’s own standards.
Russia agrees in principle to 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine
Thursday’s conversation comes on the heels of a tentative ceasefire deal in the Russia-Ukraine war. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he agrees in principle with the U.S.-proposed plan, the Associated Press reported.
“So, the idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it,” Putin said at a news conference in Moscow. “But there are issues that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to discuss it with our American colleagues and partners.”
On Monday, Ukraine agreed to accept the same deal in exchange for the U.S. resuming intelligence sharing and security assistance.
No specifics have been made public, but the White House has said everyone — Russia and Ukraine included — will have to make some kind of concession to reach a deal.
Thursday marks Witkoff’s second trip to Russia this year; the first secured the release of Marc Fogel.
Ukraine has repeatedly sought NATO membership, though Russia has vehemently opposed the move.
“The Alliance fully supports Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defence, and its right to choose its own security arrangements. Ukraine’s future is in NATO,” the organization’s Ukraine relations website reads.