TOPIC

/ people

Mark Rutte

The latest news on Mark Rutte, Dutch politician and Secretary General of NATO, including global politics and diplomacy news.

Born

14 Feb 1967

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Politician

Ukraine war

Opinion | Europe risks a self-fulfilling prophecy of war with Russia

The EU should secure its future through fair contributions to Nato and a lucrative transatlantic defence market, not conflict with Moscow.

29 Dec 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

European Union

As I see it | Russia will end the European Union, not the other way around

17 Dec 2025 - 8:16AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Europe fears hidden Russian threat in Trump-backed Ukraine peace plan

14 Dec 2025 - 10:39AMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Donald Trump left facing ‘dilemma’ as China-Japan spat worsens: analyst

White House navigates backing long-time ally Japan while preserving trade truce with China amid fraying ties between the Asian neighbours.

12 Dec 2025 - 12:29AMvideocam

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gestures as US President Donald Trump delivers a speech during their visit to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in Yokosuka, Japan, on October 28. Photo: AP

Ukraine war

European allies back Ukraine’s Zelensky after Trump criticism

Ukrainian president met leaders in London and Brussels, declaring that ceding territory to Russia - a central point of the US proposal - was impossible.

9 Dec 2025 - 9:16AM

Nato

‘Not a withdrawal’: US scales back troop presence on Nato border

US will reduce its troop presence on Europe’s eastern border with Ukraine to focus on the Indo-Pacific, but reaffirms its commitment to Nato.

30 Oct 2025 - 12:31AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Zelensky meets European leaders for talks on military aid for Ukraine

The talks aim to step up pressure on Russia, adding momentum to more sanctions against Moscow’s aggression that take aim at its vital oil and gas export earnings.

24 Oct 2025 - 11:30PMvideocam

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is greeted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street in London on Friday. Photo: EPA

Ukraine war

Trump says Ukraine talks with Putin off for now, doesn’t want ‘wasted meeting’

Decision follows a call between top US and Russian diplomats that reaffirmed Moscow’s opposition to an immediate Ukraine ceasefire.

22 Oct 2025 - 9:58AMvideocam

European Union

EU leaders back ‘drone wall’ to repel Russia after airspace violations

France detains Russian-linked tanker crew as recent intrusions by drones and fighter planes fuel security concerns.

2 Oct 2025 - 2:09PMvideocam

US-China trade war

Exclusive | India-US trade talks on UN sidelines fail to break impasse

US officials say India’s tariff rates will only be lowered if it curbs its crude oil imports from Russia.

27 Sep 2025 - 4:18AMvideocam

Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, centre, met with US trade officials on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. Photo: REUTERS

Nordic nations

Danish airport closes again after suspected new drone sightings linked to Russia

Drones have been seen flying over several Danish airports since Wednesday, which prompted Copenhagen Airport to shut down.

26 Sep 2025 - 5:41PM

The Aalborg Airport was among the Danish airports forced to close this week amid a hybrid operation by a “professional actor,” the country’s defence minister said. Photo: TNS

Russia

Nato says downing Russian drones with costly missiles ‘not sustainable’

Mark Rutte said the security alliance will soon deploy new technologies to tackle Russian jets crossing into Nato airspace.

26 Sep 2025 - 1:20PMvideocam

Nato

Nato boosts defence of Europe’s eastern flank to ward off Russia

Operation Eastern Sentry involves both air and ground forces and is a response to Moscow’s unprecedented incursion into Polish airspace.

13 Sep 2025 - 7:39AMvideocam

Poland

UN Security Council to convene over drone attacks in Poland

Warsaw has accused Russia of carrying out the drone raid, calling it an ‘unprecedented’ attack on Poland, Nato and the European Union.

12 Sep 2025 - 2:30AM

A car damaged by debris falling from a destroyed roof, after drones believed to be Russian violated Polish airspace in Wyryki near Lublin, Poland, on Thursday. Photo: AP

Ukraine war

Europe leaders call Trump after Ukraine security guarantees summit in Paris

But there appears to be no agreement on a course of action, with the nature of the guarantees sketchy.

4 Sep 2025 - 10:39PMvideocam

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky takes part in the coalition of volunteers’ meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Thursday. Photo: EPA

Ukraine war

Europe drawing up ‘precise plans’ to send troops to Ukraine: EU chief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the plan for post-conflict security guarantees has the backing of the US president.

1 Sep 2025 - 3:56PM

Ukraine war

Russia rejects Zelensky meeting as diplomatic tension simmers

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov questioned the legitimacy of Volodymyr Zelensky as Ukraine’s leader, dimming hopes for a peace deal.

23 Aug 2025 - 1:57AMvideocam

Japan

My Take | Why Japan’s support for Ukraine boosts Nato’s plan for Tokyo office

While Tokyo pledges to contribute to Ukraine’s security, Nato is somewhat wavering on its office plan, fearing that it will antagonise China.

22 Aug 2025 - 10:30AMvideocam

Firefighters work at the site of a residential area hit during Russian drone and missile strikes, in Lviv region, Ukraine, on Thursday. Photo: Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Lviv region/Handout via Reuters

Ukraine war

Opinion | For Europe and Russia, the outcome of Ukraine’s war is becoming clearer

On the horizon is the ending of Nato’s expansion in Europe and the coming of a much smaller yet consolidated sphere of influence for Russia.

20 Aug 2025 - 9:20PMvideocam

United States

Trump says he will arrange Putin, Zelensky meeting after speaking with both

After meetings with Zelensky and top European leaders in White House, Trump says trilateral meeting is also in the works.

19 Aug 2025 - 10:34AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Zelensky warns against ‘rewarding’ Russia for Ukraine war ahead of Trump meet

Trump had earlier pressed Kyiv to make concessions in exchange for peace.

18 Aug 2025 - 9:40PMvideocam

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky during a press conference in Brussels on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

Europe rallies behind Ukraine after Trump-Putin summit fails to offer ceasefire

Bloc will ‘uphold pressure on Russia’, leaders say in statement that also highlights tightrope walk in keeping Trump engaged on Ukraine.

16 Aug 2025 - 9:06PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump meets with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska on Friday. Photo:AP

Ukraine war

Trump could meet Putin over Ukraine war as soon as next week

A Trump-Putin meeting could be followed by a trilateral involving the Russian leader and Zelensky.

7 Aug 2025 - 4:01PM

Ukraine war

Netherlands first to buy ‘badly needed’ US arms for Ukraine under Nato scheme

Dutch officials believe the US$577 million worth of weapons will apply additional pressure on Russia to negotiate and halt its advances in Ukraine.

5 Aug 2025 - 4:55PMvideocam

Ukraine war

US, Nato seek to supply Ukraine with weapons paid for by allies

The move, according to three sources, comes as US President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine.

2 Aug 2025 - 1:48PM

Experts carry a part of the rocket on Friday at the site of a rocket strike on a building in Kyiv. Photo: EPA

My Take

My Take | Europe being run into the ground by amateurs and ideologues

Subservient to the United States while being antagonistic to China, the EU-Nato axis is guaranteed to end up with the worst of both worlds.

30 Jul 2025 - 9:30PM

Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the 25th China-EU Summit held in Beijing, China, on July 24. Photo: Xinhua

European Union

Opinion | The EU is doing itself no trade favours in pushing China on Russia

Tensions serve the interests of neither side; for the EU, they won’t help tackle the trade deficit or ease critical Chinese supplies.

16 Jul 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

Russia

Russia’s Medvedev scoffs at Trump’s Ukraine ultimatum, but Kremlin to analyse

Russia’s ex-president dismissed Trump’s 100 per cent tariff threat as a ‘theatrical ultimatum’, while the Kremlin said it was ‘very serious’, needing Putin’s analysis.

16 Jul 2025 - 3:15PMvideocam

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Mark Rutte

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Europe risks a self-fulfilling prophecy of war with Russia

The EU should secure its future through fair contributions to Nato and a lucrative transatlantic defence market, not conflict with Moscow.

As I see it | Russia will end the European Union, not the other way around

Europe fears hidden Russian threat in Trump-backed Ukraine peace plan

Donald Trump left facing ‘dilemma’ as China-Japan spat worsens: analyst

White House navigates backing long-time ally Japan while preserving trade truce with China amid fraying ties between the Asian neighbours.

European allies back Ukraine’s Zelensky after Trump criticism

Ukrainian president met leaders in London and Brussels, declaring that ceding territory to Russia - a central point of the US proposal - was impossible.

‘Not a withdrawal’: US scales back troop presence on Nato border

US will reduce its troop presence on Europe’s eastern border with Ukraine to focus on the Indo-Pacific, but reaffirms its commitment to Nato.

Zelensky meets European leaders for talks on military aid for Ukraine

The talks aim to step up pressure on Russia, adding momentum to more sanctions against Moscow’s aggression that take aim at its vital oil and gas export earnings.

Trump says Ukraine talks with Putin off for now, doesn’t want ‘wasted meeting’

Decision follows a call between top US and Russian diplomats that reaffirmed Moscow’s opposition to an immediate Ukraine ceasefire.

EU leaders back ‘drone wall’ to repel Russia after airspace violations

France detains Russian-linked tanker crew as recent intrusions by drones and fighter planes fuel security concerns.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | India-US trade talks on UN sidelines fail to break impasse

US officials say India’s tariff rates will only be lowered if it curbs its crude oil imports from Russia.

Danish airport closes again after suspected new drone sightings linked to Russia

Drones have been seen flying over several Danish airports since Wednesday, which prompted Copenhagen Airport to shut down.

Nato says downing Russian drones with costly missiles ‘not sustainable’

Mark Rutte said the security alliance will soon deploy new technologies to tackle Russian jets crossing into Nato airspace.

Nato boosts defence of Europe’s eastern flank to ward off Russia

Operation Eastern Sentry involves both air and ground forces and is a response to Moscow’s unprecedented incursion into Polish airspace.

UN Security Council to convene over drone attacks in Poland

Warsaw has accused Russia of carrying out the drone raid, calling it an ‘unprecedented’ attack on Poland, Nato and the European Union.

Europe leaders call Trump after Ukraine security guarantees summit in Paris

But there appears to be no agreement on a course of action, with the nature of the guarantees sketchy.

Europe drawing up ‘precise plans’ to send troops to Ukraine: EU chief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the plan for post-conflict security guarantees has the backing of the US president.

Russia rejects Zelensky meeting as diplomatic tension simmers

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov questioned the legitimacy of Volodymyr Zelensky as Ukraine’s leader, dimming hopes for a peace deal.

My Take | Why Japan’s support for Ukraine boosts Nato’s plan for Tokyo office

While Tokyo pledges to contribute to Ukraine’s security, Nato is somewhat wavering on its office plan, fearing that it will antagonise China.

Opinion | For Europe and Russia, the outcome of Ukraine’s war is becoming clearer

On the horizon is the ending of Nato’s expansion in Europe and the coming of a much smaller yet consolidated sphere of influence for Russia.

Trump says he will arrange Putin, Zelensky meeting after speaking with both

After meetings with Zelensky and top European leaders in White House, Trump says trilateral meeting is also in the works.

Zelensky warns against ‘rewarding’ Russia for Ukraine war ahead of Trump meet

Trump had earlier pressed Kyiv to make concessions in exchange for peace.

Europe rallies behind Ukraine after Trump-Putin summit fails to offer ceasefire

Bloc will ‘uphold pressure on Russia’, leaders say in statement that also highlights tightrope walk in keeping Trump engaged on Ukraine.

Trump could meet Putin over Ukraine war as soon as next week

A Trump-Putin meeting could be followed by a trilateral involving the Russian leader and Zelensky.

Netherlands first to buy ‘badly needed’ US arms for Ukraine under Nato scheme

Dutch officials believe the US$577 million worth of weapons will apply additional pressure on Russia to negotiate and halt its advances in Ukraine.

US, Nato seek to supply Ukraine with weapons paid for by allies

The move, according to three sources, comes as US President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine.

My Take | Europe being run into the ground by amateurs and ideologues

Subservient to the United States while being antagonistic to China, the EU-Nato axis is guaranteed to end up with the worst of both worlds.

Opinion | The EU is doing itself no trade favours in pushing China on Russia

Tensions serve the interests of neither side; for the EU, they won’t help tackle the trade deficit or ease critical Chinese supplies.

Russia’s Medvedev scoffs at Trump’s Ukraine ultimatum, but Kremlin to analyse

Russia’s ex-president dismissed Trump’s 100 per cent tariff threat as a ‘theatrical ultimatum’, while the Kremlin said it was ‘very serious’, needing Putin’s analysis.

Opinion | Europe risks a self-fulfilling prophecy of war with Russia

Exclusive | India-US trade talks on UN sidelines fail to break impasse