Zelenskyy thanks Stoltenberg and congratulates Rutte on becoming NATO Secretary General

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked Jens Stoltenberg for supporting Ukraine as NATO Secretary General and congratulated his successor, Mark Rutte, on taking up the post.

Zelenskyy noted on Twitter that he was grateful to Jens Stoltenberg for supporting Ukraine throughout his tenure as NATO Secretary General. 

"I deeply appreciate his personal efforts to unite the Allies in helping Ukraine prevail and strengthening the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Ukraine’s course toward NATO membership is irreversible, and we remain committed to that goal," Zelenskyy said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Mark Rutte on assuming the post of NATO Secretary General.

"I wish him success in this new position and look forward to productive cooperation to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security and our partnership with the Alliance on Ukraine's path to full membership in NATO," he added.

On Tuesday, Mark Rutte, former Dutch Prime Minister, officially succeeded Jens Stoltenberg as NATO Secretary General. 

Rutte said that Ukraine would be at the top of his list of priorities as the new head of the Alliance. 

Rutte promised that in his new post, he would seek to fulfil the Alliance's commitments to Ukraine, particularly the irreversibility of its path to NATO membership.