NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is making urgent efforts to persuade the administration of US President Donald Trump to stop pressuring Ukraine to make peace on terms that are favorable to Russia. As reported by the Financial Times on April 24, 2025, citing three senior officials, Rutte intends to hold talks in Washington with key figures in the new administration, including Defense Secretary Piet Høgseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. The main goal of the meeting is to convey that legal recognition of the change in Ukraine's borders, sought by Russian President Vladimir Putin, would pose serious threats to European security. One of the sources emphasized that Rutte is trying to convince his American colleagues to understand the scale of the risks associated with such an approach, which could undermine Western unity and regional stability.

Trump, back in the White House, has ratcheted up the pressure on Kyiv, pushing for a swift peace deal to fulfill his campaign promises to end the conflict. According to The New York Times on April 23, 2025, his plan includes de facto recognition of Russia’s control over Crimea and four other regions, a move that has been met with strong opposition in Kyiv and among European allies. In an attempt to sway Trump, European leaders have stepped up diplomatic efforts. A spokesman for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Reuters on April 24, 2025, that she plans to discuss the issue with Trump on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral at the Vatican on April 26, a rare opportunity for a face-to-face meeting.