Meet President Zelensky, Mark Rutte Ensure NATO Support For Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Secretary General of NATO) Mark Rutte on Thursday told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, "Your security is important for us", during the first visit as Secretary-General of the alliance to the country.

"Your safety is important to us, and your struggle for freedom reflects our core principles and values," Rutte said at a joint press conference, stressing his first overseas travel as head of NATO showed strong support for Kyiv.

Rutte further reiterated that NATO's pledge, Ukraine will one day become a member of the alliance, but President Zelensky said he wanted Western allies to immediately provide active military support as some of them have given to Israel in their battle with Iran.

"Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever, and will continue to be on this path until it acquires NATO membership," said the former Belada Prime Minister.

President Zelensky said he wanted to see Kyiv allies shoot down missiles and drones used by Russia in its attack on Ukraine, as some Israeli allies did when Tehran attacked Israel with missiles this week.

"We are working with them, at this time they are not ready (to do this," President Zelensky said.

On the occasion, President Zelensky repeated his call for Western allies to allow Ukraine to carry out deep attacks within Russia with weapons supplied by them, saying they were "delaying" their decision.

"Without a long-range weapon, we cannot stop Russia, which uses the weapon against us, destroying everything," he said.

Allowing Kyiv to strike targets deep within Russia will increase its ability to interfere with Russian logistics and command chains. Fearing Russia's response, Ukrainian allies have delayed taking the move.

President Zelensky also defended the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops earlier this week from the city of Vuhledar, after more than two years of fighting.

"The lives of (the soldiers) need to be saved because they are our people, they are Ukrainian citizens. Therefore, it is very appropriate for them to step down and save themselves," he explained.

NATO officials and diplomats expect Rutte to maintain the priorities of its predecessor, Jens Stoltenberg of Norway, garnering support for Kyiv, encouraging NATO countries to spend more on defense and maintain US involvement in European security.

In her new role, Rutte faces many challenges, including the possible return of NATO skeptics to NATO as President of the United States, as well as calls from Eastern European allies for more reinforcements to protect themselves from Russia.