NATO Chief Rutte arrives in Kyiv amid Ukraine’s push for security guarantees
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv for a surprise visit on Aug. 22 and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak said.
Rutte’s visit comes days after a high-level meeting in Washington between Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump, and European partners aimed at securing security guarantees for Ukraine.
"We are now working together — Ukraine, the Europeans, the United States — to make sure that these security guarantees are of such a level that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin sitting in Moscow will never try to attack Ukraine again," Rutte said at a press conference.
According to the NATO chief, the security guarantees agreement will consist of two layers: strengthening Ukraine’s army and commitments from the U.S. and Europe aimed at deterring Russia in the event of future aggression.
Bloomberg reported on Aug. 19 that the package of security guarantees for Ukraine might be finalized this week. European officials have reportedly discussed sending British and French troops to Ukraine, along with contingents from roughly 10 other countries.
According to Rutte, discussions about deploying foreign troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees are ongoing, but "it is too early to say what will be the outcome."
"It’s still too early to say who might provide troops, who will contribute intelligence, who will be present at sea, and who — in the air," President Zelensky added.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Aug. 18 that guarantees would not involve NATO membership but instead rely on a strong Ukrainian army backed by commitments from the Coalition of the Willing, which includes over 30 countries.
European officials told the Kyiv Independent on Aug. 19 that a series of meetings among the countries participating in the Coalition of the Willing could take place in the coming days to work out the details.
Trump told Fox News on Aug. 19 that Washington could provide air support as part of the guarantees but ruled out deploying U.S. ground troops.
Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that security guarantees for Ukraine can't be discussed without Russia's participation.
"Ukraine needs security guarantees so that we, our children, and grandchildren can be certain that Russia will not attack us. These are guarantees of security against an aggressor," Zelensky said at a press conference in response to Lavrov's remarks.
"When Russia raises the issue of security guarantees, to be honest, I don’t know who exactly is threatening them. They’re the ones who attacked us."
