NATO Minister in Brussels: Russia torpedoed US peace plan!

NATO Minister in Brussels: Russia torpedoed US peace plan!

On April 4, 2025, NATO Foreign Minister gathered in Brussels for a two-day exchange in which the geopolitical tensions in connection with the Ukraine conflict were the focus. EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas took part in the talks. The members of the Allianz, including several European NATO countries, expressed sharp criticism of Russia. They accuse Moscow of torpedoing the US efforts to torqued a ceasefire in Ukraine and are calling for a clear response from the USA.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio showed that President Donald Trump will not be satisfied with Vladimir Putin's delay tactics for long. In allusion to Ukraine, Rubio emphasized that it was more about "weeks than months" until the United States reacted to this if Putin does not change his course. Potential measures include new sanctions against Russia or additional weapons for Ukraine. Trump previously submitted a proposal for the introduction of a 30-day ceasefire without preconditions, but which Putin rejected.

European reactions to Russia's attitude

The patience of the United States with Russia is disappearing, and the European partners show understanding. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that Russia owed an answer to the United States. Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister, criticized the "empty words and promise" of the Kremlin, while British Foreign Minister David Lammy Putin accused the process and delay the situation.

The Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly called for a deadline for Russia's response to the offer for ceasefire. Kallas expressed confidence in the skills of the United States to respect the positions of Ukraine and Europe in their conversations with Russia. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense: Putin had already rejected an American proposal for a complete ceasefire in March.

NATO and geopolitical tensions

The Discussions of the NATO Foreign Minister also included the EU's contribution to the upgrading efforts. A planned mobilization of 800 billion euros over the next four years and EU loans of 150 billion euros are intended to strengthen the military strength of the member states. Trump emphasizes that all NATO countries should spend five percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) for defense. The current proportion of the United States is around 3.4 percent, while the European and Canadian countries only use an average of 2.0 percent.

The geopolitical tensions between NATO and Russia have increased in recent months. The Ukraine conflict is to be viewed as a critical focus. According to analysts and political commentators, the military presence of over 100,000 US soldiers in Europe is increasingly perceived as a strategic measure for intimidating Russia and defending the NATO-East flank. Russian observers analyze the movements of the US troops exactly, which increases pressure on Russia and the risk of direct confrontation.