During his first foreign visit to Kyiv on 3 October, newly appointed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that Ukraine will be his key priority in office. Rutte, who previously served as the Dutch Prime Minister, officially took office on 1 October and visited frontline Kharkiv, where the Ukraine-Netherlands security agreement was signed.
At a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rutte expressed his commitment to supporting Ukraine, stating that it is crucial for the security of NATO allies. He also highlighted the unprecedented support provided by NATO member states since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy stated that receiving an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO is a key priority in the country’s relations with the Alliance. This invitation was also included in the victory plan presented by Zelenskyy to US President Joe Biden during his recent visit to Washington DC in September.
However, during his first press conference as NATO Secretary General, Rutte did not give a timeline for when Ukraine might receive an invitation to join the Alliance. He also stated that decisions on allowing Ukraine to use Western long-range weapons to strike Russia should be made by the allies providing such weapons.
Rutte also expressed his understanding of Ukraine’s request for such weapons and supported the position of his predecessor, Jens Stoltenberg, on the matter.
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