On Tuesday, April 15, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who arrived in Odessa with a non -standing visit. During the negotiations, the main attention was focused on increasing Ukraine's air defense, which is crucial for the security of the country in the face of Russian aggression.
Following the meeting, the President noted that it is extremely important to provide Ukraine with modern air attacks, especially from ballistic missiles, today. According to him, Ukraine not only appeals to partners with a request to provide air defense, including Patriot anti-aircraft missile complexes, but also expresses their readiness to buy them. The President stressed that the decision to provide such systems is only political, since the technique is already available at the disposal of Western powers.
He added that it was not only about Ukraine's needs, but also about the broader context of European security. Issues of strategic safety in the Euro -Atlantic space, as well as interaction with partners in Europe and the US, were discussed. Zelensky thanked Mark Rutte for his personal support and a firm position on Ukraine's defense capability, as well as every leader who does not ignore the danger and understands that only decisive action can provide long -term peace.
The visit of the NATO Secretary -General to Odessa took place against the backdrop of constant Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, including infrastructure in the south. Odesa is of strategic importance for both Ukraine and the safety of the entire Black Sea region. That is why the meeting in this city has a special symbolic meaning and emphasizes the solidarity of NATO with Ukraine.
Mark Rutte, who holds the post of Prime Minister of the Netherlands and is now one of the main candidates for the post of permanent Secretary General of the Alliance, actively advocates Ukraine with modern weapons and calls for unity of allies in the fight against aggression.
The context of the meeting is the aggravation of the situation at the front and the growth of the need for air defense systems. Ukraine regularly undergoes massive rocket and drone attacks by Russia. Ballistic missiles are particularly dangerous against which only Patriot systems can effectively operate. As of today, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have several such batteries provided by the United States, Germany and the Netherlands, but this is not enough to protect the entire territory of the country.
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine hopes for the implementation of agreements with partners to supply additional air defense assets. In his opinion, it all depends on the political will of the partner countries, which already have the necessary systems and ammunition.
