Rutte backs Trump's policies Sets Putin peace condition

Jun 23

In the complete June 23 Special Report interview, Baier introduces tensions between Trump and NATO ahead of Rutte's planned next-day White House meeting; a brief opening Trump quotation is retained. Rutte backs Trump's campaign to degrade Iran's nuclear capability, arguing that a nuclear-armed Iran would threaten the region and the world. Baier cites Reuters accounts of earlier German, French and Spanish opposition and disputes over Italian bases. Rutte says he understands Trump's disappointment but describes refusals as isolated, citing 4,000–5,000 sorties from European bases, 500 U.S. planes taking off from Italy and Romanian airport support for tankers. These operational claims are Rutte's account. Baier plays Rubio saying that no country may charge tolls or fees on an international waterway and that regional countries agree. Asked about Hormuz and the Iran negotiations, Rutte supports moving toward a deal that he says would prevent Iran developing nuclear capability. He cites the previous week's G7 consensus on Iran and freedom of navigation and says European allies are positioning assets near the strait for possible demining. He expects 32 allies and ten partner nations at Ankara, describing their combined economy as $70 trillion and predicting joint conclusions; these are his assessments and expectations, not a completed reopening or demining operation. Rutte credits Trump with increased allied defense spending, jobs and production, promising further figures the following day. Baier cites the annual report's 20% spending rise compared with 2024 and its finding that all allies met or exceeded the 2014 2%-of-GDP target for the first time. Baier then quotes criticism of Rutte's closeness to Trump. Rutte acknowledges differences over style, recalls their friendship and his November 2024 visit, and argues that spending and industrial results justify the relationship. He says Trump has worked on the Defense Procurement Act and is expected to meet defense companies, stressing the need to replenish stockpiles on both sides of the Atlantic. He presents the expected 42-nation coalition as a counterweight to China, North Korea, Iran and Russia. No new spending agreement, law or completed industry meeting is announced in this account. After Baier briefly mentions AP reporting of Turkish detentions before the summit, he asks about ending the Russia–Ukraine war. Rutte claims Ukraine is doing well, estimates 30,000–35,000 Russians killed or seriously wounded each month, describes pressure from Ukrainian refinery strikes and a weakened Russian economy, and estimates defense consumes almost half Russia's state budget and three quarters of tax income. He credits Trump's February 2025 reopening of contacts and says Witkoff, Kushner and Rubio are working on peace. He insists agreement requires Putin's cooperation and says Putin has so far repeated maximalist demands. Those estimates and judgments remain attributed; no negotiated settlement is reported.

In the June 23 Fox interview, Rutte argues that Ukraine is doing well and that battlefield losses, refinery strikes and economic pressure are hurting Russia. He estimates 30,000–35,000 Russians killed or seriously wounded monthly, almost half the Russian state budget spent on defense and three quarters of tax income going to defense. He credits Trump's February 2025 reopening of talks and says Witkoff, Kushner and Rubio are seeking a peace deal. He says a deal requires Putin to cooperate and that Putin has so far repeated maximalist demands. These are Rutte's estimates and assessment; no Russian acceptance, ceasefire or peace deal is announced.