NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was in Kiev on Thursday for a surprise visit on his first official trip, vowing the alliance's continued support to Ukraine. Rutte said it was important for him to visit Kiev at the start of his mandate "to make crystal clear" to all observers that NATO stands with Ukraine.

NATO chief Mark Rutte told Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy "your security matters for ours" on Thursday during his first visit to Kyiv since becoming the alliance's secretary-general. Rutte also reiterated NATO's pledge that Ukraine would one day be a NATO member,

Rutte told reporters it was important for him to go to Ukraine at this time "to make crystal clear to you, to the people of Ukraine and to everyone watching that NATO stands with Ukraine." Rutte said he and Zelenskyy discussed areas where Ukraine needs extra support and the ways in which NATO allies are working to meet those needs.