Remarks
by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha
(As delivered)
Well, good evening. I think it is almost, or at least late in the afternoon.
I really want to welcome Andrii, the foreign minister of Ukraine. But of course, we know each other for many years now, because you have been in the team in various roles for now, basically, since we've started to work together in 2022 - but now also here as foreign minister.
Tonight we have the dinner. The EU will also be participating, Kaja Kallas, the High Representative.
I really want, again, to pay my respects for the team in Kyiv, but also the whole country, how you are standing up to this unacceptable Russian aggression, which is, which you are facing at the moment, unprovoked.
And I really want to assure you that Allies are with you. We have to do a couple of things.
First of all, we have to make sure that we help you to maintain the energy grid and the energy infrastructure as best as possible. We cannot have a weaponisation of winter in Ukraine. And this morning, we discussed this also with Tony Blinken and others - this is a crucial element.
Secondly, we have to make sure that when it comes to air defence, we are doing a lot, but more needs to be done to make sure that the country is as safe as possible when it comes to air defence.
And thirdly, when it comes to making sure that the military aid gets into Ukraine, we really have to work on this.
And I was happy today that not only the US, but also Germany and Norway, Estonia, Lithuania and the United Kingdom have announced new packages to get military aid into Ukraine. But much more needs to be done to make sure that you can, when one day you will decide to move to some form of talks with the Russians, that you can do this for a position of strength.
This we will discuss tonight, but again, for this moment. Andrii, thank you very much for coming over and being such a great friend.