STORY: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the U.S. was "putting every pressure" on Russia to end its war with Ukraine, as the alliance's defence ministers met in Brussels on Thursday (February 12).

"I really think the U.S. is doing exactly what we need when it comes to Ukraine", Rutte said, mentioning sanctions on Russian oil companies and deliveries of weaponry through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL).

Asked if U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's absence at the meeting showed weakening commitment by the U.S. to NATO, Rutte said he understood that Washington had to balance keeping NATO strong with its priorities in the western Hemisphere and Indo-Pacific.

The U.S. will be represented at the meeting by U.S Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby.

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VIDEO SHOWS: NATO SECRETARY GENERAL MARK RUTTE GIVING MEDIA BRIEFING BEFORE MEETING OF DEFENCE MINISTERS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (FEBRUARY 12, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, WALKING OUT TO GIVE STATEMENT

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (FEBRUARY 12, 2026) (NATO - Access all)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"The U.S. is putting every pressure on Russia, as the Europeans are doing, through the sanction packages. Look what has been happening with Lukoil and Rosneft and all the other stuff the U.S. is doing. The U.S. is still delivering crucial air defence and other lethal weapons into Ukraine through this PURL program, so paid for by Canadian and European allies and partners. And the U.S. is leading the peace effort. And there's only one country, the most powerful nation on earth, the U.S., which can do that, under the leadership of President (Donald) Trump, breaking the deadlock with Putin, getting the peace process going. So I really think the U.S. is doing exactly what we need when it comes to Ukraine."

3. RUTTE LISTENING TO QUESTION

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"The U.S. leadership team under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary (of Defense) (Pete) Hegseth, Secretary (of State) (Marco) Rubio, indeed also Undersecretary (of Defense) (Elbridge) Colby, they have always consistently pleaded for Europe doing more, Canada doing more, taking more care of the defence of NATO territory, of course, in conjunction with the United States. And I predict that longer term, you will see, of course, the nuclear umbrella as the ultimate guarantor of our security here in Europe and Canada, but also a strong conventional presence of the U.S. here in Europe, which is crucial. We all know this. And NATO is not only there to protect Europe and Canada, it's also there to protect the United States. And for the United States to be secure, you need a strong and secure Arctic, a secure Europe, but also a secure Atlantic. So we are in this together. This is how this alliance was founded 77 years ago, 77 years ago in 1949."

5. RUTTE LISTENING TO QUESTION

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING (RESPONDING TO QUESTION ABOUT WHY HEGSETH IS NOT ATTENDING MEETING):

"When it comes to Secretary Hegseth, I mean, I'm in regular contact with him and all the senior senior officials in the United States. Of course, the American president, number one, the overall leader of the U.S., but also his whole foreign leadership and defence, secretary of war leadership team. But hey, they have to take care of the whole world. This is the United States. NATO is very important, but there's also the Western hemisphere. There's also the Indo-Pacific. I totally accept it. I agree with it. And I had dinner last night with Elbridge Colby. I think he has been a consistent voice of: 'hey, Europe, do more, because as the United States, we also have to pivot more towards the Indo-Pacific. Let's make sure that collectively we keep Europe strong and Canada and the United States, so NATO territory, but also make sure that we keep our eyes on the Indo-Pacific and not be naive about China'. So having him today in the room, I think, is really having added value. So I'm happy he's here. I totally accept Pete Hegseth also having to take care of all these other responsibilities. Thank you so much and we will see each other later today at the presser around 3 o'clock. Yes."

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (FEBRUARY 12, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

7. RUTTE THANKING PRESS AND LEAVING