In his inaugural visit to Kyiv as the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte pledged his commitment to Ukraine, assuring President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, “your security is crucial to ours”. This statement was made during a joint press briefing, in which he underscored that his first foreign stopover as the head of NATO signified their firm backing for Ukraine.
Mr Rutte, a former Prime Minister from the Netherlands who took office recently, renewed NATO’s promise that Ukraine will eventually join the alliance. He stated, “Ukraine’s proximity to NATO is closer than ever before, and it will persist on this trajectory until membership is attained.”
Additionally, Mr. Zelenskiy urged western allies to expeditedly offer the active military aid that some have extended to Israel amid its confrontation with Iran. However, the President mentioned his allies were not presently prepared. Mr. Zelenskiy raised his request for long-range arms to hit deep into Russia and denounced the allies’ prolonged decision-making. He emphasised, “lacking long-distance weaponry, we’re incapable of deterring Russia, who is using them against us, causing widespread devastation.”
The director deferred from providing any further remarks about Ukraine’s recent evacuation from the town of Vuhledar, amidst the ongoing Russian military advancements in Eastern Ukraine this season.
Ukraine’s citizens, including the soldiers, should be prioritised for safety, as they are our own people. One appropriate way of ensuring their safety is allowing them to disengage and protect their lives, emphasized during the conversation. Moscow, under President Vladimir Putin’s directive, initiated an expansive military assault on Ukraine in February 2022. Putin’s action, influenced by other factors, was also largely due to Ukraine’s objective to become part of NATO – a move perceived by Kremlin as a direct jeopardy to Russia’s security paradigm.
While in the Ukrainian capital, Mr Rutte reiterated NATO’s stance that Moscow should not influence or dictate a country’s eligibility or prohibition in becoming part of the alliance. The officials of NATO and diplomats anticipate that Mr Rutte continues to prioritize similar to his predecessor, Jens Stoltenberg of Norway. This includes bolstering support for Kyiv, encouraging NATO nations to allocate more budget for military defence, and keeping the United States – a crucial player in the alliance – involved in maintaining the security of Europe.
In his time as the Dutch Prime Minister, Mr Rutte authorised the deployment of Dutch F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine. Currently, he is faced with several challenges in his new role. These include the potential re-election of NATO-critic, Donald Trump as the leading power in America and calls from allies based in eastern Europe seeking additional strength to safeguard against Russian aggression, as cited by Reuters.