NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Monday that he had visited the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and announced that the alliance's support for Kiev was unwavering, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Rutte's visit is a sign of solidarity with Kiev after a rocket attack on the northern city of Sumy on Sunday that killed 35 people and wounded more than 100, Reuters notes.
"The people of Ukraine have withstood so much, not least the attack on Sumy on Palm Sunday. NATO's support is unwavering," Rutte wrote in an article in "Ex". "We will continue to help Ukraine so that it can defend itself against aggression both today and in the future, ensuring a lasting and just peace," he added.
Today I visited Odesa along with @ZelenskyyUa
— Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) April 15, 2025
Ukraine’s people have endured so much - not least Russia’s Palm Sunday attack on Sumy. NATO support is unwavering. We will continue to help Ukraine so it can defend today and deter future aggression, ensuring a just and lasting peace pic.twitter.com/FQb4p66Iad
The US-led negotiations to conclude an agreement between Kiev and Moscow "are not easy", the NATO secretary general also said during his visit to Odessa.
"The discussions are not easy, especially against the backdrop of this horrific violence," Rutte said. "However, we support US President Donald Trump's efforts to achieve peace," Rutte added, quoted by Agence France-Presse.
His trip to Ukraine comes at a time when the US, the dominant power in NATO, is working to reach a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, and also follows Trump's criticism of Zelensky.
Zelensky said that he and Rutte visited a hospital where Ukrainian soldiers are being treated.
"We spoke with our warriors. I presented awards to our defenders. I am grateful to our boys for their strength and endurance and for protecting our people," Zelensky wrote in "Ex". "I also presented awards to medical workers," he added. "I thank everyone who protects, treats and supports Ukraine." You are our strength," he said.
At the same time, Zelensky stressed that his country has an "urgent need" for air defense systems.
Zelensky added that negotiations with the United States on minerals are "positive" and that more meetings are expected. He said that they will continue at a technical level during the week.
Representatives from Ukraine, Britain, France and Turkey will participate in a meeting in Turkey today related to security in the Black Sea, Zelensky also said.