New NATO secretary general names Ukraine his top priority

Ukraine must become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), otherwise security in Europe cannot be guaranteed, the Alliance’s new secretary general, Mark Rutte, said in his first speech in office.

“Because an independent and democratic Ukraine is vital for peace and stability in Europe. […] I know from personal experience, with the downing of flight MH17, how the conflict in Ukraine is not contained to the frontlines,” Rutte said.

NATO must fulfill its commitments to Ukraine, the former Dutch prime minister said.

“The command, the financial pledge and Ukraine’s irreversible path to membership. We must sustain this support into the future because Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO,” he emphasized.

Rutte urged not to heed Russia’s nuclear threats. 

“Let him [Putin] talk about his nuclear arsenal. He wants us to also discuss his nuclear arsenal. And I think we shouldn’t. We should just acknowledge the fact that clearly, there is no imminent threat of nuclear weapons being used,” he said.

If the world begins to make concessions to Putin’s threats, it will set a dangerous precedent, Rutter said.

“If you would give in to Putin’s threats, that would set a precedent that using military force allows a country to get what it wants, and we cannot do that,” he said.

Rutte identified Ukraine as his top priority during his four-year tenure as NATO secretary general. 

“What we now first have to deal with is the war, and to make sure that Ukraine prevails, and that Ukraine prevails as an independent, sovereign and democratic nation, that is now the priority,” he said.