Ukrainian president at NATO summit stresses need for air defense

THE HAGUE - Ukraine still needs air defense, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told a press briefing with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian president thanked the NATO secretary general for the invitation to attend the summit. He expressed satisfaction that the summit was taking place in the Netherlands, a "great friend" of Ukraine. He also thanked the Netherlands for its support and for Rutte's personal commitment.

"I have always relied on it and I will continue to do so. I am pleased that there is always direct and constant communication between us. [...] We always talk about what we need - this was the case when Rutte was the prime minister of the Netherlands and continues now that he is the Secretary General of NATO. I am happy about this relationship," the Ukrainian president told reporters.

He stressed that the decisions on Russia taken at last year's NATO Summit in Washington were very important. According to Zelensky, this is important because this course is not being changed. The Ukrainian president noted that his country is counting on continued support, including joint production and massive military assistance.

"These are important things and important signals. I am grateful to Rutte and all our allies for our strong friendship", the Ukrainian president said.

For his part, the NATO secretary general stressed that an important summit was coming up, where important decisions would be taken on Ukraine, building in fact on the alliance's summit in Washington last year. There, member states decided that Ukraine's path to NATO is irreversible and that this bridge is being built right now.

"Of course, I cannot reveal the content of the summit's declaration, but I can assure you that it will contain important formulations on Ukraine, its support, including financial assistance in the longer term. This is important because what we have seen over the past weeks is unacceptable," Rutte said.

He added that Russia completely unjustifiably launched a full-scale war more than three years ago. The NATO secretary general recalled that the invasion of Ukraine actually started in 2014, but the full-scale invasion was launched in February 2022.

Rutte stressed that the past weeks have seen indistriminate attacks on innocent people. People living in cities, in their communities, going about their daily lives, are being killed or seriously injured by Russian drones and other weapons.

"So everybody is very motivated. Please understand! I hear it from all the allies that we need to keep Ukraine strong, help the country to stay in the fight and bring this terrible war to an end with a lasting and long-term peace. [...] Thank you for coming and know that you are among friends," the NATO secretary general told Zelensky.

According to the websites of NATO and the NATO Summit in The Hague, the high-level event will focus on defense, transatlantic cooperation and support to Ukraine.