NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who took office this month, explained why Ukraine will be a key priority for him. At a press conference with the Ukrainian president, he noted that his visit to Ukraine was his first working trip as secretary general, Yevropeyska Pravda reports.
Rutte noted that it was important for him to come to Ukraine at the beginning of his mandate to ‘make it absolutely clear to you, the people of Ukraine, and to everyone watching that NATO continues to support Ukraine.’ He added that supporting Ukrainians is in the interest of the Allies themselves.
‘I consider it my priority and privilege as NATO Secretary General to strengthen this support and to ensure that Ukraine prevails (in this war - EP),’ Rutte said.
Mark Rutte replaced Jens Stoltenberg as NATO Secretary General on 1 October. Previously, he was the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, a country that provides huge military and financial support to Ukraine. In June, Rutte formally won the election for NATO Secretary General. His only competitor was the president of Romania, but he withdrew from the race.