Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during his visit to the United Kingdom on March 17. The meeting took place as part of Zelensky’s official program in London.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Strengthening Ukraine’s Air Defense
A key topic of discussion between Zelensky and Rutte was the enhancement of Ukraine’s air defense system and the protection of civilians from Russian aerial attacks. The Ukrainian President emphasized the importance of such negotiations and thanked for the PURL program, which allows for the procurement of missiles for Patriot systems from the United States.
“We discussed many different topics, but primarily the strengthening of air defense and the protection of our people from Russian attacks,” he reported.
According to Zelensky, Kyiv intends to involve new countries in the joint initiative and expand financial support to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.
International Security and the Impact of the Situation Surrounding Iran
Particular attention during the talks was given to the situation surrounding Iran and its implications for Ukraine and the European region. Zelensky stressed that Russia should not benefit from the tensions in the Middle East or use it to prolong the war against Ukraine.
Mark Rutte has not yet made any official statements regarding the meeting. It is known that during his visit to London, he was also scheduled to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
As part of his trip to the United Kingdom on March 17, Zelensky held an audience with King Charles III, addressed the British Parliament, and signed a Ukrainian-British declaration with Keir Starmer to expand cooperation in the fields of security and defense industry.