Zelenskyy meets with NATO chief in Brussels to discuss Ukraine’s security

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Wednesday with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels to discuss critical next steps in addressing Russia’s war against his country.

The high-level meeting will later include leaders from Germany, Poland, Italy and Denmark and the European Union's primary institutions.

The gathering focused on bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses, strengthening its army and planning for the country’s post-war recovery.

The discussions come as US President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office again, marking a pivotal moment in international diplomatic efforts to support Ukraine.

"Very much high on the agenda is to make sure that the president, his team and Ukraine are in the best possible position one day when they decide to start peace talks," Rutte said during a press briefing.

He emphasized the importance of immediate military and economic support for Ukraine, noting that "when it comes to air defense, when it comes to other weapon systems, we must provide whatever we can."

Rutte also highlighted a Danish-Lithuanian initiative to procure weapons directly from Ukraine’s defense industry.

"This is good news, because it means more weapons for Ukraine and also money for the Ukrainian economy," he added.

Zelenskyy expressed optimism about the meetings, underscoring the importance of unity among European nations in supporting Ukraine’s defense and recovery efforts.

"It’s a very good opportunity to speak about security guarantees for Ukraine, for today and for tomorrow," he said.
He acknowledged the immediate challenges posed by the winter and the urgent need for air defense systems.

"It’s really important to use these two days in Brussels to meet with all our partners and to have the same joint position of Europe. How to secure Ukraine, how to strengthen us -- our people, citizens, civilians -- and of course, to make our army stronger," he added.

Zelenskyy also reflected on the significance of coordinated action, noting: "We already had a meeting with (French) President (Emmanuel) Macron, and a little bit later, we will have meetings with other leaders."