NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte opened his remarks alongside President Donald Trump in the Oval Office Wednesday by applauding Trump’s efforts at a ceasefire in the Middle East.

Watch Trump and Rutte’s meeting in the video player above.

Saying he was texting Trump as the deal came into effect, Rutte thanked him for “everything you’re doing,” adding that his NATO colleagues “want to help” him bring peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Wednesday’s meeting came as the U.S. announced new sanctions against Russia’s two biggest oil companies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent blasted Moscow’s refusal to end its “senseless war” and said the Treasury Department was prepared to take further action if necessary to support Trump’s effort to end the war.

The sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil, as

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