EU top diplomat nominee strongly backs Ukraine and underlines China's links to the war

After delivering ammunition and ballistic missiles, North Korea has now sent troops to fight and die alongside Russia in its illegal war,

Rutte said

We must do more than just keep Ukraine in the fight,

Rutte told reporters ahead of talks in Paris with French leader Emmanuel Macron

We must stand together -- Europe, North America and our global partners... We have to keep our trans-atlantic alliance strong."

But he added

Emmanuel Macronfrench President

That’s what is expected from the American administration and rightly so,

Macron said, calling again for Europe to boost its own military capability

Nothing shall be decided about Ukraine without the Ukrainians, nor about Europe without the Europeans.”

In what looked like a warning for Trump — who claimed on the campaign trail that he

Kaja Kallasprime Minister

Ukraine’s victory is a priority for us all. The situation on the battlefield is very difficult,

Estonia ex-Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told EU lawmakers during a hearing she must pass to be appointed as foreign policy chief

Josep BorrelleU foreign policy chief

We are not the ones who are electing the president for our partners. So we need to work with all the administrations.”

The 47-year-old Estonian politician, who is set to take over the top EU post from Spain’s Josep Borrell, played down concerns about Trump, saying

Without China’s support to Russia, Russia would not be able to continue its war with the same force. China needs to also feel the higher cost,

she said, suggesting that sanctions should be considered

That is why we must keep on working every day. Today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes and with as much military, financial and humanitarian aid as needed,

she said, and added

Russia, working together with North Korea, Iran and China, is not only threatening Europe... but also the Indo-Pacific and North America. So we must stand together,

Rutte said

Emmanuel Macronfrench President

For too long, Europe has avoided bearing the burden of its own security, believing that it could, in a way, receive the dividends of peace without any time limit,

Macron said

There's zero evidence that NATO chief Mark Rutte has said he'll kick US out of the alliance if Trump surrenders Ukraine to Russia. The quote leads to pro-Kremlin sites and channels on Telegram. Rutte actually said after 5 Nov election he is looking forward to working with Trump."

Olga Robinson, an assistant editor at BBC Verify, fact-checked the claims and wrote

Breaking- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says that 'If Trump surrenders Ukraine to Putin, he will personally expel the United States from the alliance' Good luck with that."

One user, Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis, a medical doctor, wrote

I worked with him very well for four years. He is extremely clear about what he wants. He understands that you have to deal with each other to come to joint positions. And I think we can do that."

The NATO chief said

I spoke with @realDonaldTrump to personally congratulate him on his remarkable election victory. I look forward to seeing him soon. We will work together to tackle the many security challenges we face."

After Trump's victory last week, Rutte wrote on X