In line with the Dutch Prime Minister, Europe must do more to support Ukraine.
Bloomberg / co-author / Getty Images
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Thursday it was essential for Europe to proceed to withstand Russian aggression, saying the region must do “every part we are able to to assist Ukrainians.”
“If the aggressor is not challenged and may go about his business, it’ll not end in Ukraine. The entire West is at risk,” Rutte told CNBC, discussing Europe’s response to the war in Ukraine at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Rutte referred to the 1938 Munich Agreement in his discussion with CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick wherein the Allied forces agreed that Czechoslovakia would give up its border regions and defenses to Nazi Germany.
“People feel it’s about values, that we will not accept one country’s invasion of one other… It is also about our collective security,” he added.
Rutte also said that Europe must do more to assist Ukraine, but the issue of sending tanks is a “delicate decision”.
![If the aggressor is not challenged, the entire West is at risk, says the Dutch prime minister](https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/107181061-16741385861674138583-27798357921-1080pnbcnews.jpg?v=1674139064&w=750&h=422&vtcrop=y)
“I agree that there is an argument to be sent [tanks] to Ukraine. There is also an argument to make a call along with others, including our friends in the US,” he said, adding that he was “fairly optimistic” that the situation “may result in a landing.”
“We must do every part we are able to to assist Ukrainians,” Rutte said.
Ukraine has repeatedly asked its Western allies to offer tanks to assist it fight Russia, which has caused tensions between European countries, with some fearing that the supply of weapons could further provoke Moscow.
But the region could also be near reaching an agreement.
“I understand that the deal has mainly been worked out,” John E. Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, told CNBC on Monday.
“We all know that the grumblers here were the Germans and it appears that evidently the Germans were convinced that they’d allow other countries which have Leopard tanks to send them to Ukraine – I’m sure of it – and so do I. I feel it is very likely but I’m not so sure that Germany will even send some leopards,” he said.
Asked about Germany’s contribution, Rutte said the country had at all times “done whatever needed to be done” to assist Ukraine.
— Holly Ellyatt of CNBC contributed to this report.