NATO Secretary affirms Alliance’s commitment to Ukraine in first official visit
Mark Rutte's first act as NATO chief was to visit Ukraine, signaling the country's priority status for the alliance.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that Ukraine will be his key priority in office during his first foreign visit to Kyiv on 3 October.
Longtime Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte officially took office as NATO Secretary General on 1 October. As the Dutch Prime Minister, Rutte visited frontline Kharkiv, where the Ukraine-Netherlands security agreement was signed.
During a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rutte said the Ukrainian issue will be his key priority in his new post.
“It was important for me to come to Ukraine at the beginning of my mandate to show clearly to you, the people of Ukraine, and to all who are watching that NATO continues to support Ukraine,” he said.
The Secretary General explained that supporting Ukraine is crucial for the allies themselves.
“This is why we are so committed to supporting Ukraine, because your security matters for our security, and your fight for freedom reflects our principles and values,” he said.
The NATO chief highlighted the “unprecedented support” provided to Ukraine by allies since Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to Rutte, 99% of the security assistance received by Ukraine has come from NATO member states.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that receiving an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO is a key priority in Ukraine’s relations with the Alliance.
The invitation to join NATO is part of the victory plan, which Zelenskyy presented to US President Joe Biden during his last visit to DC in September.
During his first press conference as NATO Secretary General on 1 October, Rutte avoided predicting when Ukraine might receive an invitation to join the Alliance.
He also said that decisions on allowing Ukraine to use Western long-range weapons to strike Russia should be made by the allies providing such weapons.
At the same time, he emphasized that he understands this request from Ukraine and supports the position of his predecessor, Jens Stoltenberg, in this matter.
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