New NATO Сhief Rutte Makes First Overseas Support Visit to Ukraine, Meets With President Zelenskyy

The new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on 3 October to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

This was reported by the NATO website.

This is Rutte's first foreign visit in his new position.

The Secretary General has already held talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the parties held a press conference following the meeting.

At the press conference, Rutte confirmed that the Ukrainian issue would be his key priority in his new post. 

‘It was important for me to come to Ukraine at the beginning of my mandate to make it absolutely clear to you, the people of Ukraine, and to all those watching that NATO continues to support Ukraine. I consider it my priority and privilege as NATO Secretary General to strengthen this support and to ensure that Ukraine prevails,’ said Rutte.

The Secretary General explained that the Allies themselves also need support for Ukraine. 

‘That is why we are so committed to supporting Ukraine, because your security matters to ours, and your fight for freedom reflects our principles and values,’ Rutte said. 

He stressed that 99% of the security support received by Ukraine came from NATO member states. 

At a joint briefing, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he considers it a key priority in Ukraine's relations with NATO to receive an invitation to join the Alliance, although he understands that it will not be easy. 

As The Gaze previously reported, on 1 October, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte officially took office as NATO Secretary General, replacing Jens Stoltenberg. The new head of the Alliance expressed strong support for Ukraine.