Photo: Volodymyr Zelensky
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Kyiv today. He met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in what is his first official visit since taking office.
The visit, as reported by NATO’s press service, highlights the importance of Ukraine’s role in defending Euro-Atlantic values.
Zelensky emphasized the significance of Rutte’s first visit being to Ukraine, underlining Ukraine’s priorities and common goals with NATO. He praised Rutte’s commitment and stated that Ukraine’s key objective remains full membership in the Alliance. The two leaders discussed a range of topics. These include Ukraine’s plan for victory and the current battlefield situation. They also discussed the immediate needs for Ukraine’s air defense ahead of winter.
Zelensky highlighted the importance of implementing the agreements on air defense, especially those reached at the NATO summit in Washington, to strengthen Ukraine’s security.
Mark Rutte officially became NATO Secretary General on 1 October 2024, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg after a decade in the role. Rutte, the longest-serving prime minister in the modern history of the Netherlands, took office after a period of political deliberations within NATO, including the withdrawal of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis’ candidacy and Hungary lifting its objections.
The United States has reviewed President Volodymyr Zelensky’s victory plan and noted that it contains «productive steps.»
US State Department spokesman added that the US will continue communicating with Ukraine regarding the actions outlined in the plan that other countries should take.