IRIA News

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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced trip on August 22, 2025. Rutte met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discussed joint steps for ending the Russia-Ukraine war and preparing security guarantees for Ukraine.

Rutte underlined NATO’s commitment to ensuring that Russia can never again launch a full-scale attack against Ukraine. He stressed that allies are working on a dual-track approach: strengthening Ukraine’s own defense capabilities while coordinating binding guarantees from NATO members and partners.

Rutte praised Zelenskyy’s leadership, Ukraine’s resilience, and pledged that NATO will continue to stand with Ukraine as it prepares to mark its Independence Day on August 24.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy welcomed the NATO chief’s visit as a strategic signal, noting that Ukraine seeks not only continued military support but also clear commitments that will anchor its security in the Euro-Atlantic system.

“Our shared goal is exactly as it is formulated in the dialogue with partners – Article 5-like guarantees, similar to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. These are truly effective security guarantees, and that is the outcome we must achieve: a crystal-clear architecture of which countries assist us on the ground, which are responsible for the security of our skies, which guarantee security at sea and support Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.

Good to be in Kyiv 🇺🇦 today and meet with my friend President @ZelenskyyUa. NATO’s support for Ukraine is unwavering and continues to grow. We stand with you in the push for a just and lasting peace. pic.twitter.com/5T5ROJQz5F

— Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) August 22, 2025

Zelenskyy stressed that he is ready for meetings with the Russian President Putin, both bilaterally and in a trilateral format involving the United States. However, the Ukrainian president emphasized that “strong sanctions are needed if they do not agree to a diplomatic solution to this war. If they do not want to end the war, we are counting heavily on strong packages from our partners.”

“We believe everything must be done to ensure Russia can no longer evade such meetings. We see a strong signal from the United States that they are ready to move forward. Europe and other countries within the Coalition of the Willing are also ready to help – and we are grateful for that,” he added.

The meeting also focused on the implementation of the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program, through which European partners have already allocated $1.5 billion worth of essential equipment such as air defence systems and ammunition for Ukraine.

The NATO secretary general highlighted that more than three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine continues to stand strong, while NATO Allies are increasing their backing. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Mark Rutte also talked about engaging additional partners in this initiative.

“New participants will soon join – we are grateful to each and every one of them. This enables Ukraine to procure from the United States such critically needed items as air defense systems – first and foremost, Patriots, missiles, HIMARS, and other types of weaponry,” Zelenskyy said.

NATO Allies are also supporting Ukraine’s defence industry, recognizing its innovation, particularly in drone technology, and investing to strengthen both Ukraine’s security and economy.

Regarding peace efforts, Rutte noted that the Washington meeting earlier in the week – with U.S. President Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders – marked a significant step toward breaking the deadlock with Russia. He confirmed that the U.S. will play a central role in providing robust security guarantees for Ukraine.

Rutte noted that during the meeting in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump clearly stated that the United States would be involved in providing security guarantees for Ukraine. However, he did not provide details on what particular guarantees President Trump agreed to offer.

On the possibility of troop deployments, Rutte said discussions are ongoing, involving Ukrainian, U.S., and European officials, but stressed that it is too early to specify outcomes. He assured that NATO remains deeply engaged, both in coordinating current military aid through its Wiesbaden command and in preparing Ukraine’s future armed forces to meet NATO standards.

The NATO secretary general also addressed concerns from Ukrainians who doubt the effectiveness of ongoing U.S.-led peace talks. Rutte stressed that NATO and Ukraine are working “hands in glove,” with initiatives like the Comprehensive Assistance Package and U.S.-supplied lethal weapons funded by European Allies. Rutte highlighted the commitment agreed in Washington to Ukraine’s irreversible path into NATO, even though full membership remains a matter for the future.