Mark Rutte's comments come a day after Putin rejected US proposals for peace in Ukraine after talks with US negotiators in Moscow.

NATO considers "more aggressive" stance against Russia's hybrid warfare, including pre-emptive cyber operations, as tensions escalate over sabotage.

After being blindsided by President Donald Trump’s 28-point plan last month, some Europeans have expressed extreme disquiet at being apparently sidelined in talks.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's national security council, issued the call following two days of "constructive discussions" in Florida. They said in a statement that the prospect of ending the war in Ukraine depends on Russia's "readiness" to take "steps towards de-escalation and cessation of killing".

The diplomat questioned whether Europe would be a dynamic economy or just somewhere Americans visit for lovely wines, cheeses and beers

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov attends a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (both not pictured) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on Aug 7, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Alexander Nemenov) … see more