A former advisor to ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkel has publicly criticized NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s approach ahead of the upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Alaska. Christoph Heusgen voiced his concerns regarding Rutte’s suggestion of potential territorial concessions by Ukraine as part of a possible ceasefire agreement.
Speaking to the news portal T-Online, Heusgen characterized the early discussion of territorial concessions as a “mistake” expressing surprise that Rutte would initiate such dialogue so early in the process. He suggested that this approach could be perceived favorably by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Rutte, in an interview with ABC News, had distinguished between “de facto” and “de jure” recognition of Russian control over Ukrainian territory, proposing a potential agreement acknowledging Russian control without legal acceptance. Heusgen, a veteran of the Minsk negotiations with Russia, countered that negotiations should not begin with pre-emptive fulfillment of the opposing side’s demands.
While Heusgen doesn’t anticipate a definitive agreement emerging from the Anchorage summit, he highlighted the contrasting negotiating styles of the two leaders. He described the US President as an “unpredictable” interlocutor while characterizing Putin as a “skillful” negotiator likely to dominate a one-on-one conversation with Trump. He expressed hope that Trump would not compromise Ukrainian and European security interests in any potential deal.
Heusgen also cautioned against a potential “transatlantic rupture” indicating the possibility of Trump and Putin reaching an agreement detrimental to both Ukraine and Europe. He suggested that a refusal by Europeans and Ukrainians to accept such a deal could lead to a new dynamic, potentially requiring increased support for Ukraine, potentially led by Germany.
