International Courant
NATO should guarantee Ukraine positive factors the higher hand in its struggle in opposition to Russia, the brand new head of the transatlantic navy alliance mentioned after taking cost.
Mark Rutte labeled Ukraine his “prime precedence” as he formally grew to become NATO secretary basic throughout a ceremony in Brussels on Tuesday. The previous Dutch prime minister took over from Jens Stoltenberg greater than three months after the 32 members of the alliance appointed him.
Rutte declared that he “cannot wait to get to work” and instructed journalists: “We should be sure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, impartial, democratic nation.”
He additionally famous that amid the rising struggle between Israel and Hezbollah, monitoring the state of affairs in Lebanon can be on the prime of his listing.
The brand new NATO chief additionally claimed that he’s not apprehensive in regards to the upcoming presidential elections in america as he might work with both candidate.
It has been steered that the Republican candidate, former US President Donald Trump, might reduce support to Ukraine or weaken safety ensures for some NATO members if he returns to the White Home after the November election.
Rutte famous Trump’s continued stress on NATO allies to spend extra on protection, however mentioned he was not involved as a result of he had beforehand labored with the US presidential candidate.
“He additionally pushed us in the direction of China, and I feel he was proper there,” he added.
The NATO chief additionally famous that boosting Western protection trade manufacturing and deepening ties with companions within the Asia-Pacific area are essential duties.
“Mark has the right background to change into an important secretary basic,” mentioned a visibly emotional Stoltenberg on the finish of his ten years as president.
“He has been prime minister for 14 years and has led 4 totally different coalition governments … due to this fact he is aware of easy methods to compromise, construct consensus, and these are expertise which are extremely valued right here at NATO,” he mentioned.
Rutte will possible must depend on such expertise to cope with uncertainty about future Western assist for Ukraine. Aside from the uncertainty surrounding future US assist, European Union coverage has been pressured by opposition from Hungary, amongst others.
No change
In the meantime, Russian troops are advancing on the battlefield, greater than two and a half years after the all-out invasion of the Kremlin.
Seven individuals, together with three ladies, have been killed Tuesday morning when Russian forces shelled the southern metropolis of Kherson, in accordance with the Ukrainian prosecutor’s workplace.
The assault befell in an space close to a central bus cease and a central market at round 9 a.m. (0600 GMT), the workplace mentioned in an announcement.
Governor Oleksandr Prokudin printed a video exhibiting the blurred corpses in civilian garments mendacity close to a market stall promoting tomatoes and different greens.
Russia has denied attacking civilians however has recurrently attacked cities and cities behind the entrance line.
Kiev has urged its allies to boost navy support to assist fend off such assaults.
NATO, whose members have provided 99 p.c of all international weapons to Ukraine, agreed at a summit in July to play a larger function in supplying weapons to Kiev, and Rutte would play a key function in managing that assist.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned on social media that he desires to work “productively” with Rutte to carry his nation into the navy alliance – an concept that Russia has recognized as a purple line.
I congratulate Mark Rutte on his activity as Secretary Normal of NATO.
I want him each success on this new function and sit up for working productively collectively to strengthen Euro-Atlantic safety and our partnership with the Alliance, as Ukraine continues on its path…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 1, 2024
“I want him a lot success on this new function and sit up for working productively collectively to strengthen Euro-Atlantic safety and our partnership with the alliance, as Ukraine continues its path in the direction of full NATO membership,” Zelenskyy wrote. X.
A Kremlin spokesman mentioned Russia doesn’t anticipate any change in coverage from the brand new NATO chief.
Rutte calls Ukraine ‘prime precedence’ as he takes over as head of NATO | NATO information
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