NATO chief says U.S. is committed

Nothing should be read into Rubio missing meeting, adds the secretary-general.

- By LORNE COOK

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS AFP Getty Images

MARCO RUBIO's absence comes after President Trump's proposal to end the war dismayed allies.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte brushed off fresh concern Tuesday about the United States’ commitment to the military organization on the eve of a meeting of allied foreign ministers focused on Russia’s war against Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was expected to miss Wednesday's meeting, which will unfold during high-stakes negotiations in Moscow and in Europe about Ukraine's future. His rare absence at the American-led alliance comes after President Trump’s 28-point proposal to end the almost four-year war dismayed European allies and Canada last month.

At a pivotal moment in NATO's history, European allies see Russia's invasion as an existential threat, and senior officials have warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin might launch another attack on Europe in three to five years should he prevail in Ukraine.

At the same time, the U.S. insists that its allies must take care of security in their own backyard, and doubts about America’s NATO leadership and the alliance’s unity undermine the organization's ability to deter an adversary such as Putin.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, Rutte underlined that Rubio has a busy schedule.