Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Tuesday, October 1, 2024, discover the latest news around this conflict.
Six dead in Russian fire on Kherson
Six people were killed and six others injured Tuesday morning by Russian artillery fire on the city of Kherson, in southern Ukraine, regional authorities report.
The shooting hit a market and a bus stop in the center, said the region’s governor, Oleksandr Prokudin and the local prosecutor’s office.
Zelensky wants to work “effectively” with Rutte to bring kyiv closer to NATO membership
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday he wanted to work “effectively” with the Dutchman Mark Rutte, new Secretary General of NATO, to bring kyiv closer to joining the Alliance.
“I look forward to working effectively to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security and our partnership with the Alliance, as Ukraine continues its path towards full NATO membership.”Zelensky said on X. “Only together, with Ukraine and its allies, can we truly guarantee a peaceful Europe”he added.
Rutte’s message to Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin “must achieve” that NATO does not “will not give in” in his support for Ukraine, underlined the new boss of the Atlantic Alliance Mark Rutte on Tuesday.
“We must concentrate on the war effort”. “The more we help Ukraine, the sooner” war “will end”he said.
Starmer congratulates Rutte, reaffirms need for ‘strong support’ for Ukraine
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday congratulated the new head of NATO, the Dutchman Mark Rutte, on taking office, recalling the need for the Alliance to maintain its “firm support” to Ukraine.
“I look forward to us working together as NATO defends our freedom, notably through our strong support for Ukraine” faced with the Russian invasion, reacted the head of the British government on “NATO bigger, stronger and more united than ever”.
Mark Rutte takes the helm of NATO against a backdrop of war of attrition in Ukraine and uncertainty in the USA
Mark Rutte, former Dutch Prime Minister, took office on Tuesday as NATO Secretary General with the main task of maintaining the unity of the transatlantic alliance as the war in Ukraine finds itself in a crucial phase and looms a decisive American presidential election.
During a ceremony at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Mark Rutte took over from Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, who oversaw the organization during a decade marked mainly by the invasion of Ukraine launched by the Russia in February 2022. It is expected by NATO representatives and diplomats that Mark Rutte will follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, by setting up the same priorities: gathering support behind Ukraine, pushing the 32 member countries to allocate more funding to defense and keep the United States involved in Europe’s security.
But uncertainty reigns, both over the conflict in Ukraine, which has become a war of attrition, and over the support that Washington will continue to provide to NATO and Kyiv after the American presidential election in November, which opposes Vice-President Kamala Harris to former President Donald Trump, who has little appreciation for the Transatlantic Alliance. Mark Rutte, who resigned this year as Prime Minister of the Netherlands after fourteen years in power – a record – has always shown fervent support for Ukraine.
He also urged European leaders to “stop whining” about Donald Trump and agreeing to strengthen the continent’s defenses. With the war in Ukraine, NATO, founded in 1949 with the aim of deterring the Soviet Union from attacking Western Europe and, if necessary, defending the bloc, regained a central role in international affairs.
“We must ensure that Ukraine wins as a sovereign, independent and democratic nation”the former Dutch prime minister told Reuters journalists at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
He also downplayed the transatlantic alliance’s concern over upcoming elections in the United States, its most powerful member, saying: “I’m not worried. I know both candidates very well.” “I worked for years with Donald Trump. He’s the one who encouraged us to spend more (on defense), and he succeeded, because now we’re spending a lot more than when he came to office. power”added Mark Rutte.
“Kamala Harris has had a fantastic career as vice president. She is well respected, so I will be able to work with both of them.”he said.
