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.

The new head of NATO vowed when he took office on Tuesday to help shore up Western support for Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia's full-scale invasion since February 2022 and has for most of this year been on the defensive due to a relentless Russian army push in the country's eastern regions.

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.