NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned Thursday that North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine represents a direct threat to U.S. security, as he made a concerted effort to persuade Donald Trump to continue supporting Kyiv.
Rutte’s remarks came as fears are growing in Europe that Trump, if re-elected as U.S. president, could withdraw crucial military aid for Ukraine, potentially shifting the balance of support in the ongoing war. NATO allies emphasize that keeping Ukraine in the fight against Russia is essential for both European and American security, and Rutte sought to connect the dots between the Ukraine conflict and broader geopolitical challenges for Washington.
“What we see more and more is that North Korea, Iran, China, and of course Russia are working together—working together against Ukraine,” Rutte told reporters during a European leaders’ summit in Budapest. “At the same time, Russia has to pay for this, and one of the things they are doing is delivering technology to North Korea, which is now threatening in future the mainland of the U.S., continental Europe.”
Rutte further emphasized his desire to meet with Trump to discuss how to face these emerging global threats collectively, reinforcing the message of the importance of continued U.S. support for Ukraine.
North Korea, a staunch supporter of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has reportedly sent troops to fight alongside Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at the summit, claimed that 11,000 North Korean troops had been deployed to Russia’s western Kursk region, where they have already suffered losses.
“North Korea is now, in effect, waging war in Europe. North Korean soldiers are attempting to kill our people on European soil,” Zelensky said.
Meanwhile, Iran has been accused of supplying Russia with missiles and drones, while China plays a crucial role in ensuring that technology continues to flow to Russia to support its war effort.
Trump’s repeated questioning of the tens of billions of dollars in U.S. military aid to Ukraine has raised concerns among U.S. allies. The former president has suggested that he could end the war “in 24 hours” by negotiating a peace deal with Russia, fueling fears that he might push Ukraine to accept terms that favor Moscow.
European leaders are increasingly focused on maintaining support for Ukraine, especially in light of political uncertainty in key European powers like Germany and France. With Ukraine’s troops facing exhaustion on the battlefield and struggling to repel Russia’s advances, continued Western support is seen as critical.
According to the Kiel Institute, the U.S. has contributed over $90 billion to Ukraine’s war effort, while Europe has spent around $125 billion. The U.S. remains the largest supplier of weapons, providing much of the equipment Ukraine relies on.
“Any narrative that can help Trump look more favorably on Ukraine is good and worth trying,” said a senior NATO diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
However, some EU leaders at the Budapest summit sought to downplay concerns about U.S. support for Ukraine. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda emphasized that Ukraine deserves global support “no matter if we are the United States or Europe,” as it faces “brutal attacks” from Russia.
Outgoing Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo added, “If the United States would decide to change, that does not mean that we need to change. That the support for Ukraine stands or collapses with the United States is not true—European countries play a very determining role in that.”
