Mark Rutte, the newly appointed Secretary-General of NATO, made his first official visit to Ukraine on Thursday, reaffirming the alliance’s continued support for the country in its war with Russia. Air raid sirens sounded twice during their talks. His visit follows his swearing-in earlier in the week, when he vowed to strengthen Western backing for Ukraine, which has been resisting Russia's full-scale invasion since February 2022.

Ukraine's right to self-defense, according to Rutte, "does not end at the border, and Russia is pursuing this illegal war, and that means that targeting Russian fighter jets and missiles before they can be used against Ukraine's civilian infrastructure can help save lives."

Rutte expressed optimism about working with whoever wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election, recognizing the critical role the United States plays as NATO’s leading member.

Zelenskyy and Rutte also discussed Ukraine’s strategic "victory plan" in preparation for a NATO meeting at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany next week. This meeting will gather defense leaders from over 50 partner nations to coordinate further military aid to Ukraine. Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s urgent need for additional weapons, particularly long-range arms that Kyiv has long requested.

When asked whether the escalating war in the Middle East might affect Ukraine’s timeline for success, Zelenskyy pointed out that both the U.S. and Britain claim Iran has been supplying missiles and drones to Russia for use in Ukraine. He also urged Western nations to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western-supplied long-range weapons for strikes deep into Russian territory.

"Ukraine must not be forgotten. The best way to ensure that is by providing the necessary weapons and permissions," Zelenskyy said. He emphasized the need to intercept Iranian missiles and drones over Ukraine, just as they are being shot down in Israel.

Rutte reinforced NATO’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine, noting that "Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before." He highlighted several recent actions that pave the way for Ukraine's eventual NATO membership, including €40 billion ($44 billion) in financial aid, bilateral security agreements, and the creation of a new NATO command to manage training and assistance.

Rutte’s visit came in the wake of a Russian glide bomb that struck a five-story apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, injuring at least 12 people, including a three-year-old girl. The attack ignited a fire in the building, forcing firefighters to search through smoke and debris for survivors.