NATO chief Mark Rutte vows continued support for Ukraine in first official visit

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New NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte made his first official visit to Ukraine, reaffirming the alliance’s unwavering support for Kyiv in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Rutte met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, where air raid sirens sounded twice during their meeting. This visit comes just two days after Rutte took office, vowing to bolster Western support for Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion since February 2022.

Rutte expressed confidence in working with the future US president, acknowledging the crucial role the US plays in the alliance. Zelenskyy and Rutte discussed Ukraine’s “victory plan” ahead of the upcoming NATO meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where defense leaders from over 50 partner nations will convene to coordinate weapons aid.

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Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s need for more armaments, including long-range weapons, and urged Western countries to lift restrictions on using Western-supplied weapons to strike deep into Russia.

He stressed, “Of course, we want Ukraine to not be forgotten. But the best way not to forget about Ukraine is to provide the appropriate weapons and the necessary permissions.” Rutte reassured Ukraine of NATO’s unwavering support, stating that “Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before.”

Rutte’s visit followed a devastating Russian glide bomb attack on a Kharkiv apartment block, injuring at least 12 people. The city has been a frequent target of aerial attacks, with glide bombs increasingly used to terrorize civilians and weaken Ukrainian defenses. Zelenskyy justified Ukraine’s withdrawal from Vuhledar, citing the need to preserve manpower for future battles.

As Russia maintains its battlefield initiative, Ukraine faces significant manpower challenges and struggles to hold back Russia’s relentless assaults. Both sides continue to engage in cross-border aerial attacks, with Ukraine’s air force destroying 78 out of 105 Russian drones overnight.

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