NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, during his first visit to Kyiv, emphasized that Ukraine's security is crucial to NATO's, reaffirming NATO's support for Ukraine's future membership while President Zelensky urged Western allies for increased military assistance against Russia.
During his first visit to Kyiv as NATO chief, Mark Rutte told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, "your security matters for ours." He reaffirmed NATO's pledge that Ukraine would one day join the alliance, while Zelensky urged Western allies for urgent military support similar to that provided to Israel.
Rutte, in a joint news conference, emphasized NATO's strong backing for Kyiv, noting that his first foreign visit as NATO chief underscored this support. He added that "Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before, and it will continue along this path until it secures NATO membership."
Zelensky expressed his desire for Kyiv's allies to intercept Russian missiles and drones attacking Ukraine, similar to how Israel's allies responded to Tehran's missile attacks. "We are working with them, at present they are not ready to do this," he said.
He also renewed his plea for Western allies to permit Ukraine to launch deep strikes inside Russia using supplied weapons, criticizing the delay in decision-making. "Without long-range weapons, we cannot stop Russia, which is using those weapons against us, destroying everything," he stated. Allies, cautious of Russia’s reaction, have hesitated on this move.
Zelensky also addressed Ukraine's recent withdrawal from Vuhledar amid ongoing Russian advances in eastern Ukraine.
Zelensky emphasized the need to protect soldiers' lives, saying, "Lives (of soldiers) need to be saved because they are our people, they are citizens of Ukraine."
Putin launched the full-scale invasion in February 2022, citing Kyiv's NATO ambitions, which Moscow sees as a threat. In Kyiv, Rutte reaffirmed that Moscow cannot dictate which countries join NATO.
NATO officials expect Rutte to continue supporting Ukraine, pushing for increased defense spending, and keeping the U.S. involved in European security. As Dutch prime minister, Rutte approved sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Now, he faces challenges, including a potential Trump return and demands for more reinforcements from eastern Europe.
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday (3 June) that ongoing discussions with Denmark and Greenland over the use of the island for collective defence are “in a good place.”
A series of military drones entering the airspace of Finland and the Baltic states has heightened concerns that the war in Ukraine is increasingly affecting NATO’s northern flank. The incidents have triggered security alerts, air defence responses and political fallout across the region.
Competing narratives continue to shape perceptions of the war in Ukraine, with Russian leadership suggesting a possible end phase while Ukrainian officials warn of renewed large-scale attacks and ongoing escalation risks.
Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought heavy rain, power cuts and transport disruption across Japan on Wednesday (3 June) as it tracked towards the greater Tokyo region.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Albania in recent days to protest against a luxury tourism project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and his wife Ivanka Trump.
An Iranian drone and missile attack struck Kuwait International Airport early Wednesday, injuring several people, damaging Terminal 1 and forcing flight diversions, Kuwaiti authorities said.
Armenia’s parliamentary election comes at a defining moment for the South Caucasus, a region reshaped by the Garabagh conflict and broader shifts in Russia-West relations. The outcome is increasingly seen as a signal of Armenia’s future foreign policy direction and the regional balance of power.
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China has criticised planned maritime boundary discussions between Japan and the Philippines, arguing that the waters involved fall within an area where Beijing claims maritime rights and jurisdiction.
U.S. President Donald Trump will attend next month's NATO leaders' summit in Türkiye, ending weeks of uncertainty over whether he would take part in a gathering expected to focus on the future of the alliance.
All 27 European Union (EU) member countries have agreed to begin the first set of talks with Ukraine and Moldova about joining the political and economic bloc.
Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul has suggested that Berlin's strong backing of Ukraine and its close ties with Israel may have contributed to its failure to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
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