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New NATO Chief Mark Rutte: Ukraine’s Rightful Place Is in NATO

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Maryna_kulakova
Maryna Kulakova
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New NATO Chief Mark Rutte: Ukraine’s Rightful Place Is in NATO
Mark Rutte, the new Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), during a transition ceremony at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Source: Getty Images)

The new NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, has pledged to ensure that the commitments made to Ukraine by the Alliance — particularly the irreversibility of its path toward NATO membership — will be upheld during his tenure.

Rutte made this statement during his inaugural speech as Secretary General.

He outlined three key priorities for his leadership, highlighting that one of the most important will be to strengthen support for Ukraine and accelerate its progress toward joining NATO.

"Because there can be no lasting security in Europe without a strong, independent Ukraine. I know from personal experience, with the downing of flight MH17 in 2014, how conflict in Ukraine is not contained to the frontlines," Rutte stressed.

He also underscored the importance of fulfilling the commitments made to Ukraine at the Washington summit in July, saying, "We must deliver on the package agreed at the Washington Summit: the command, the financial pledge, and Ukraine’s irreversible path to membership. And we must sustain this support into the future. Because Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO.”

On October 1, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte officially assumed the role of NATO Secretary General, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg.

Rutte reaffirmed that Ukraine will be a top priority on his agenda as the new leader of the Alliance.

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