Rutte, surprise visit to Kiev: The new NATO Minister goes to Zelensky on his first official trip: “The alliance is with you”

NATO has a new secretary, but the line remains the same. And he was the same Mark Ruti To repeat it on his first visit as Secretary-General. The Dutchman had already visited Ukraine other times (four times) in his previous life as Prime Minister, but he chose to meet Volodymyr Zelensky Like the first verb. “It was very important to emphasize to the Ukrainian people and to those watching us, that NATO stands with you,” he announced at a press conference, referring to Moscow.

The visit comes at a time when Kyiv is under pressure. The most-wanted Ramstein Formula leaders’ summit is scheduled to be held in Germany on October 12 Joe Biden To assess military aid, closely followed (in the following week) by a meeting of NATO Defense Ministers, A Brussels. Zelensky has stomped his feet, blaming allies for the thorny issue of using long-range weapons to strike military targets in Russia. The Ukrainian president clearly said that without “certain means” and the “possibility” of using them “we cannot stop Russia.” “When Moscow destroys the positions of our soldiers, it is right for them to withdraw to save their lives. They are more important than buildings,” he then noted regarding the Russian invasion of the city. Fullydarand closely links Western strategy with effects on the battlefield.

In the bilateral conversation, the Ukrainian President explained to Rutte the “victory plan” of Ukraine over Russia. To then comment on The entire Atlantic at this time Rutte’s visit to Kyiv “also confirms that we in Ukraine can count on Mark’s continued personal leadership,” Zelensky continued.
“Our main goal, of course, remains Ukraine’s full NATO membership,” Zelensky stressed, explaining that he also discussed with Rutte “the current needs of our forces, as well as Ukraine’s needs for air defense and “further cooperation with Russia,” our neighbors. He concluded his speech by saying: “As winter approaches, it is necessary to implement all agreements related to the matter Air defence“Especially those discussed at the NATO summit in Washington.”

For his part, the new Secretary LNATO He insisted on the topics dear to his predecessor Stoltenberg“We know that the need” for new military aid to Ukraine “is urgent. We are working hard to do more, faster. He continued that NATO allies have provided Ukraine with unprecedented support since Russia launched its comprehensive invasion in 2022, including more than 99% of Total military aid. But we know you need more. So, at the NATO summit in Washington this summer, the allies agreed to ensure we provide you with more: more equipment, more training, more support “For NATO to coordinate the delivery of security assistance and training, and to help ensure that Ukraine gets what it needs, that it gets what it promised, and that the support provided today contributes to building an interoperable future.” The allies also agreed to a financial commitment, with Expectations of $100,000 40 billion euros of military aid within a year, and commit to reviewing this level of support every year, so that Ukraine gets what it needs to prevail.”