NATO-Ukraine Council meets in Kyiv for first time

A meeting of Ukrainian representatives and the North Atlantic Alliance in the format of the NATO-Ukraine Council took place in Kyiv on 3 June, marking the first time such a meeting was held in Ukraine.

Source: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after a meeting at the Mariinskyi Palace, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Mark Rutte said he is accompanied on his visit to Kyiv by representatives of all 32 member states of the Alliance.

Quote from Rutte: "This time I also brought with me the whole North Atlantic Council for our historic first NATO-Ukraine Council meeting in Kyiv. This in itself sends a strong message of the enduring bond between NATO and Ukraine. It is important for us to be here, where Ukrainians – young and old – continue to stand together with courage and conviction that their freedom is worth fighting for."

More details: Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he considers it important that the meeting was held in Ukraine.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "The Ukraine-NATO Council is a special format of our cooperation. And this is the first meeting in this format in Kyiv. It is truly historic. It is important that this format helps focus partners' attention on key security issues."

More details: European Pravda reported that the vast majority of NATO states were represented at the meeting by their representatives to the Alliance, with only a few represented by deputy representatives.

Background:

• Commenting on Ukraine's strike on St Petersburg during the days of Putin's key international event, Rutte joked that Russia needed Zelenskyy's permission, as it had on 9 May.
• Mark Rutte, during a visit to Ukraine, has spoken about rising Russian losses in the war and made a public address to Russian youth.
• Rutte and Zelenskyy also said that neither side is abandoning the need for Ukraine to join the Alliance.

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