The new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Ukraine today. This is his first official visit since he headed the Alliance. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen NATO’s support for Kiev in the war with Russia, the Associated Press reported.
Rutte met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, and air raid sirens were sounded twice during their meeting.
NATO’s new leader pledged at his inauguration on Tuesday to help boost Western support for Ukraine, which has been struggling to push back Russian forces since February 2022.
Rutte expressed confidence that he could work with whoever the US president is after the November election.
Asked about Ukraine’s prospects for NATO membership, Rutte said recent steps taken by NATO together “build a bridge to NATO membership,” including €40 billion in financial aid, bilateral security agreements between allies and the formation of a new NATO command to coordinate aid and exercises.
Ukraine is striving to receive an invitation to NATO membership, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said , quoted by Ukrinform.
“Ukraine is focused on certain aspects. As for NATO, we are now focused on Ukraine being invited to NATO in the first place. This is a very important step. It is difficult to achieve. We are focused on this result. We will do everything to achieve it,” said Zelensky.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the withdrawal of the Ukrainian armed forces from Ugledar a right step, as it allowed the lives of soldiers to be saved.
“Without proper weapons, we cannot stop Russia. When they destroy the positions of our soldiers, we must protect their lives, because they are more important than any buildings. They are our people, they are citizens of Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
Rutte arrived in Kiev after a Russian bomb hit a five-story apartment block in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, injuring at least 12 people, local authorities said. Volodymyr Zelensky said that the attack in Kharkiv highlighted the urgent need for greater support from Kiev’s Western allies.
