Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte flew to Washington on October 21 for an unscheduled meeting with President Donald Trump, coinciding with Trump’s announcement that the summit with Vladimir Putin would be delayed.
Unexpected Meeting of Politicians
On October 21, NATO announced that Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte would depart for Washington in a rush trip, without prior notice and with no specific purpose disclosed.
According to the White House schedule, Trump was to meet Rutte in the Oval Office around 10 pm Polish time on Wednesday.
Rutte is among European leaders who have been urging Trump for stronger support for Ukraine for months.
Trump‑Putin Summit Postponed
After a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump announced a meeting in Budapest, but later the White House said there would be no such summit in the near future.
Trump explained the cancellation as a lost opportunity for time.
