The key facts

  • According to preliminary results of the November 3 midterm elections, Democrats secured a majority in both chambers of Congress.
  • Rutte urged Trump not to lose heart, defended his contacts with Putin, and acknowledged European allies' concerns over the agreement on Russian diesel fuel supplies to the US.
  • The NATO Secretary General suggested that the conflict in Ukraine will likely end with a peace agreement rather than a decisive victory for either side.

Support from NATO following election defeat

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that he advised US President Donald Trump 'not to lose heart' after the Republican Party's defeat in the congressional midterm elections, as reported by Bloomberg and also indicated by Gazeta.Ru and Life.ru in publications dated November 6.

What else Rutte said

As Life.ru reports citing Bloomberg, Rutte believes that election results should not become a reason for despair and emphasizes the importance of maintaining cooperation with Washington despite changes in the political landscape. He also defended Trump's contacts with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, separately highlighting the significance of good relations between the two presidents.

European concerns and parallels with LNG purchases

Journalists raised the issue of the agreement between the presidents of Russia and the US regarding supplies of Russian diesel fuel to the American market. Rutte acknowledged that Washington's decision caused concern among European allies, who fear the consequences of the rapprochement between the two countries. At the same time, according to him, Europe itself purchased significant volumes of Russian liquefied natural gas during the current year, despite political disagreements with Moscow.

Assessment of prospects for the conflict in Ukraine

According to Rutte's assessment, it is unlikely that either side will achieve an unequivocal victory in the conflict in Ukraine: the confrontation will most likely end with the conclusion of a peace agreement. The Secretary General also emphasized the importance of American participation in ensuring Europe's security: NATO, according to him, remains a platform allowing the US to maintain a military presence on the continent, while European allies are currently unable to independently ensure a comparable level of protection.

Election context and reactions

The statement was made against the backdrop of significant political changes in Washington: according to preliminary results of the November 3 midterm elections, the Democratic Party secured a majority in both chambers of Congress, which, as Life.ru notes, could complicate the further work of the Trump administration. Earlier, American journalist Tucker Carlson announced the end of Trump's political era following the Republicans' defeat: according to him, the party suffered a complete rout, and the responsibility lies with the president; he concluded his assessment with the phrase 'It's all over'.