NATO Says Friday's Trump-Putin Meeting Will Test Russia's Intentions

Russian President Vladimir Putin with US President Donald Trump. (Mikhail Metzel-TASS)

JAKARTA - NATO considers the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, the US on Friday next week, to be an important moment in efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the meeting would also test Putin's intention to reach an agreement to end the Russian-Ukraine war.

"Next Friday will be important as it will test Putin, how serious he is in ending this terrible war," Rutte said at ABC News's This Week event, Sunday 10 August.

Rutte stressed that the main goal of the West is to make Ukraine sovereign and free from a military invasion.

"Of course, this will discuss security guarantees, but also about the absolute need to admit that Ukraine is deciding its own future, that Ukraine should become a sovereign country, which decides its own geopolitical future," Rutte said.

Rutte said Trump also agreed with NATO to fight for Ukraine's independence. "The president wants to end this. He wants to end the terrible loss of life," he added.

Although it is undeniable, said Rutte, before the war broke out Russia had controlled parts of Ukraine.

"The question is how we can move forward after the ceasefire, including what it means to guarantee security for Ukraine," he said.