On October 3, the new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv with an unannounced visit. This is his first official visit after taking office.
“Mark Rutte’s first visit as head of NATO is to Ukraine. This is really important. The priorities are immediately clear, where right now the protection of the common values of the entire Euro-Atlantic continues. And it also emphasizes that we in Ukraine can count on Mark’s further personal leadership.
Of course, our key goal is Ukraine’s full membership in the Alliance. We also discussed today the Victory Plan of Ukraine, the situation on the battlefield, the existing needs of our units and Ukrainian needs in air defense and in additional cooperation with neighbors.
Now, before winter, it is important to implement all the agreements reached regarding air defense, in particular, what was discussed at the NATO summit in Washington.” – stated Zelensky in the Telegram channel.
This visit is an important event, as it was Rutte’s first official visit to Ukraine after his appointment to the highest post in the North Atlantic Alliance.
It is important to emphasize that Rutte assumed the post of NATO Secretary General at a critical moment for Ukraine, when its membership in the Alliance is one of the key topics of international politics. During this visit, he held a meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi. During the bilateral talks, the parties focused on cooperation between Ukraine and NATO, discussed current military support, membership prospects and plans to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities. The two leaders also discussed security issues in the region, where Ukraine plays an important role in deterring aggression from Russia.
After the meeting, Rutte and Zelensky held a joint press conference at which the main results of the negotiations were announced. It was emphasized NATO’s strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the Alliance’s readiness to continue providing military and technical assistance to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
This visit took place just a few days after the official handover ceremony of the NATO Secretary General, which took place on October 1 at the Alliance’s headquarters in Brussels. The ceremony was a formal confirmation of his new duties, which were agreed upon by all 32 NATO member states back in June. Before becoming Secretary General, Rutte headed the government of the Netherlands for almost 14 years, which shows his considerable experience in international politics and managing the state in moments of crisis.
At the inauguration ceremony, Rutte emphasized the strategic importance of Ukraine for NATO, stating that its place is among the members of the Alliance. He also emphasized that the issue of supporting Ukraine remains one of the key priorities on NATO’s agenda, because it is not only about military aid, but also about political support in the international arena.
