Mark Rutte: ‘NATO Stands With Ukraine’
Mark Rutte holding a symbol of the NAFO movement founded by a Polish neo-Nazi. X/ @pawelwargan
October 3, 2024 Hour: 8:26 am
His priority as NATO Secretary-General will be to ensure that Ukraine prevails.
During a surprise visit to Kyiv on Thursday, NATO’s new Secretary Mark Rutte firmly stated that Ukraine has the full backing of the Atlantic Alliance against Russia.
RELATED:
Ukraine Attacks Russian City Located 460 Kms Beyond the Border Line
Rutte, who assumed his role as NATO Secretary two days ago, made his first official trip in this position to Kyiv, a city he has visited five times since 2022, previously as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
“This is the first time I have come here as NATO Secretary. It was important for me to visit Ukraine at the beginning of my term to make it very clear to you, the Ukrainian people, and to everyone watching, that NATO stands with Ukraine,” he said during a press conference alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Rutte assured that as the new Secretary General of the Alliance, it is his “priority and privilege to carry forward this support, working with you to ensure that Ukraine prevails.” “Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever, and it will continue on this path until it becomes a member of our Alliance,” he said, stressing that NATO is so committed to helping Ukraine because “its security is important to ours, and its fight for freedom reflects our core principles and values.”
Rutte also reminded that the Allies have provided Ukraine with unprecedented support, including 99 percent of the military aid it has received, although he acknowledged that the country needs more assistance. “That is why the Allies agreed at the NATO summit held in Washington this summer to ensure that we could provide more equipment, more training, and more support,” Rutte pointed out.
In his statements, he referred to the command center in Germany from which NATO will coordinate the provision of military aid and training for Ukrainian soldiers. He also referred to the financial commitment of at least 40 billion euros to provide military aid to Ukraine over the course of a year.
“We know the need is urgent, and we are working hard to do more and to do it faster,” Rutte said, noting that several Allies, such as Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States, would finance around 8 billion in aid. At the Washington summit, Allied leaders also agreed to enhance their defense industrial capacity and help Ukraine build its national capabilities with more investment and innovation.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
