'Supporting Ukraine is my priority': Mark Rutte officially takes over as NATO secretary general

Mark Rutte took over as NATO Secretary General on 1 October.

Here's What We Know

For ten years the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) was led by Jens Stoltenberg and today he was replaced by former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

The newly appointed NATO Secretary General held a press conference where he thanked his predecessor and promised that he would continue to develop and strengthen the Alliance.

Mark Rutte has repeatedly expressed his support for Ukraine and today he said that "Ukraine will win as a sovereign, independent and democratic state, of course with our support and assistance".

One of his main priorities will be to support Ukraine, including in its desire to strike long-range weapons against military targets on Russian territory.

Don't forget that Ukraine is fighting a war of self-defence, which means it has the right to defend itself. And as we know, under international law, that right does not end at the border.

Perhaps it will be Mark Rutte's position that will be decisive in granting Ukraine permission to strike deep into Russia with Western weapons, which will be essential for a just end to the war.

Source: NATO