The NATO Secretary General defends Ukraine’s ability to attack targets in Russia

Just two days after assuming the position of NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte visited Ukraine yesterday to meet with the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenski. In addition to expressing his support and commitment to continue providing assistance, the former Dutch Prime Minister advocated for the Ukrainian Army to attack targets within Russia, as his interlocutor insistently demands: “Attacking Russian planes and missiles before they can be used against civilian infrastructure can save lives,” Rutte argued at the joint press conference.

Already at his inauguration, the new Secretary General had announced that Ukraine would be a priority for him and that he would work to “intensify” support for Kyiv. “It was important to come at the beginning of my term, to make it very clear to the Ukrainian people and everyone watching that NATO stands with Ukraine,” he extended yesterday. The visit comes at a difficult time for Ukraine, as its forces are retreating on the eastern front, with a shortage of men and weapons, and Kyiv is demanding authorization to attack targets on Russian territory with long-range missiles, a possibility rejected by allies like the United States for fear it could lead to an escalation by Moscow.

Rutte, however, gave his approval to this path since International Law “is on Ukraine’s side” and exercising its right to defense does not end at the border: “The only country that has crossed red lines has been Russia by starting this war,” he pointed out. However, he recalled that the decision to lift restrictions on the use of Western weapons against targets in Russia depends on the allies who supply them, not NATO.

“Closer than ever”

The Secretary General also referred to Ukraine’s future accession, which he sees “closer to NATO than ever,” as he celebrated. “It will continue on that path until it becomes a member. I look forward to that day,” he added.

Zelenski, for his part, reiterated his request to Western allies to attack Russian positions, in addition to demanding that Ukraine be supplied with “a sufficient quantity and quality of weapons” and be assisted in shooting down missiles. In this regard, he referred to Iran’s attack on Israel: “The fact that there were no casualties is because the allies defended the people of Israel,” he highlighted.

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