On the third day after assuming leadership, the new NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, visited Ukraine for his first official trip. Rutte met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyi in Kyiv and expressed his support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
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Mark Rutte served as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands before taking on the role of Secretary General of NATO. In that capacity, he visited Ukraine four times following the onset of the war.
"As the new Secretary General of NATO, it is my priority and privilege to continue this support, working with you to ensure that Ukraine prevails.
Volodymyr, I have said before and I will say again: your tireless leadership is an inspiration to me and to all of us.
The dedication of your Armed Forces and the determination of the Ukrainian people remind us how precious freedom is. And how vital it is to do everything we can to defend it.
…And this is why we are so committed to supporting Ukraine – because your security matters for ours, and your fight for freedom reflects our core principles and values," Mark Rutte said at a press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Rutte noted that the allies agreed at the NATO summit in Washington to enhance their support for Ukraine, including more equipment, training, and assistance.
"Allies also have agreed to a financial pledge. With a baseline of 40 billion euros worth of military aid within a year. And a commitment to review this level of support every year, so that Ukraine has what it needs to prevail. We know the need is urgent. And we are working hard to do more, and more quickly. In the last few weeks, several Allies announced further military aid for Ukraine Including new contributions from Denmark, from Latvia, the United Kingdom, and nearly 8 billion dollars of assistance from the United States," the NATO Secretary General added.
In conclusion, Mark Rutte stated that Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever, and this rapprochement will continue until the country becomes a member of the alliance.
"I very much look forward to that day. NATO stands with Ukraine, for your security and ours," Mark Rutte remarked.
During the joint press conference, President Zelensky emphasized that the main priority of Ukraine's relations with NATO is to secure an invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance, although he acknowledges that it will not be easy.
"We are now focused on getting Ukraine invited to NATO. This is a very important step. It is difficult to achieve. We are focused on this result. We will do everything to get it," Volodymyr Zelensky stressed, affirming that Ukraine's ultimate goal of becoming a full-fledged member of the alliance remains unchanged.
"Ukraine can become the 33rd NATO country, and Ukrainians deserve it," Zelensky declared.
Jens Stoltenberg formally handed over the authority of NATO Secretary General to Mark Rutte on October 1. In his speech at the ceremony in Helsinki, Rutte outlined three main priorities for his leadership: maintaining a strong NATO and effective defense capability; strengthening support for Ukraine and facilitating its integration into NATO; and enhancing partnerships with the European Union and other countries that share NATO's values.
Mark Rutte served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024 before his appointment as NATO Secretary General. He is the first prime minister in the history of the Netherlands to hold this position for the longest duration - 13 years.
