In a significant visit to Kyiv today, NATO’s newly appointed Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Rutte reiterated his commitment to helping Ukraine “defeat” the ongoing Russian invasion, while Zelenskyy voiced his frustration with Western nations over the delays in supplying long-range missiles.
This visit marks Rutte’s inaugural trip since taking on his NATO role and underscores his strong backing for Ukraine.
During a joint press conference in Kyiv, Rutte stated that ensuring Ukraine’s victory is his top priority in this new position.
Zelenskyy took the opportunity to express his concerns about the sluggish pace of long-range missile deliveries from Western allies, emphasizing their critical role in countering the Russian threat.
“We require sufficient numbers of high-quality weapons, including long-range systems,” he told reporters. “In my view, our partners are dragging their feet.”
Furthermore, Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to persuade Western allies to bolster their support in intercepting missiles and drones launched by Russia.
“We will keep advocating for the importance of intercepting Russian missiles and drones,” he said. “We recognize this is a challenging decision… they are not quite ready for it yet.”
