The Dutch prime minister says the whole West is threatened if the aggressor is not challenged

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Thursday that it was essential for Europe to continue to stand up to Russia’s aggression, saying the region should do “everything it can to help the Ukrainians”.

“If the aggressor is not challenged and can go about its business, then Ukraine will not end up. The whole West is threatened,” Rutte told CNBC, while discussing Europe’s response to the war in Ukraine at the World Economic Forum in Davos. .

Rutte referred to the Munich Agreement of 1938 in his discussion with CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick, in which the Allied forces agreed that Czechoslovakia would hand over its border regions and defenses to Nazi Germany.

He added, “People feel it’s about values, that we can’t accept a country invading another… It’s also about our collective safety.”

Rutte also said that Europe needs to do more to help Ukraine, but that the issue of sending tanks is a “sensitive decision”.

“I agree that there is an argument to be made [tanks] to Ukraine. There is also a case for making the decision jointly with others, including our friends in the United States,” he said, adding that he was “somewhat optimistic” that the situation “could reach a tipping point.”

“We have to do everything we can to help the Ukrainians,” Rutte said.

Ukraine repeatedly asked And its Western allies will provide tanks to help it fight Russia, which has caused tension among European countries, as some fear that providing weapons will further provoke Moscow.

But the region may be close to reaching an agreement.

“My understanding is that an agreement has basically been reached,” John E. Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and former US ambassador to Ukraine, told CNBC Monday.

“We know that the laggard here was Germany, and the Germans now seem convinced of that, they will allow other countries that have Leopard tanks to send them to Ukraine – I’m sure of that – and I also think it’s very likely, but I’m not sure that Germany sends some Leopards.” Moreover “.

Asked about Germany’s contributions, Rutte said the country had “done everything that needed to be done” to help Ukraine.

— CNBC’s Holly Ellytt contributed to this report.