NATO’s Rutte visits Ukraine amid fresh Russian attacks
On Tuesday, April 15, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte paid a visit to Ukraine. He traveled to the city of Odessa, which had recently been struck by Russian drones, and held discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Today, I visited Odesa with President Zelensky. The people of Ukraine have endured so much — including Russia’s recent Palm Sunday attack on the city of Sumy. NATO’s support is unwavering. We will continue to assist Ukraine so that it can defend itself today and deter future aggression, securing a just and lasting peace,” Rutte wrote on X.com.
Today I visited Odesa along with @ZelenskyyUa
— Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) April 15, 2025
Ukraine’s people have endured so much - not least Russia’s Palm Sunday attack on Sumy. NATO support is unwavering. We will continue to help Ukraine so it can defend today and deter future aggression, ensuring a just and lasting peace pic.twitter.com/FQb4p66Iad
President Zelensky emphasized the importance of consistent international backing, stating:
Stable and predictable support for Ukraine sends the right signals to Russia — signals that encourage diplomacy. Those in Moscow must see that Ukraine will not be left to face this war alone. I am grateful to everyone around the world who understands this and continues to stand with Ukraine.
Zelensky further noted:
It’s crucial that we continue working together through the coalition of those willing and able to guarantee security. The United Kingdom, France, and other NATO countries are already laying the groundwork for a security contingent in Ukraine. We must all move quickly and efficiently in this process. Additionally, NATO’s mission to provide security assistance and training in Wiesbaden must operate at full capacity. Its effectiveness directly translates to saving Ukrainian lives.
Also on Tuesday, the administration of Donald Trump informed G7 allies that it could not endorse a statement condemning the Russian attack on Sumy, citing the need to “preserve room for peaceful negotiations,” according to a report by the BBC, referencing Bloomberg.
Bloomberg stated that Canada, which currently chairs the Group of Seven, notified partners that without U.S. approval, issuing the joint declaration would not be possible. A draft of the statement, seen by Bloomberg News, reportedly described the Sumy strike as evidence that Russia intends to prolong the war.
One day prior, Donald Trump had described the Russian attack on Sumy as “horrible” but stopped short of directly blaming Russia. When asked by journalists to clarify his remarks, he replied, “Ask them,” without specifying to whom he was referring, as reported by AFP.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
