NATO Secretary General Defends U.S.: Zelensky Silenced on Patriot Missiles
During a Kyiv press conference, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte answered questions on Patriot missile deliveries to Ukraine, preventing Zelensky from responding.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, during a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, effectively did not allow him to answer journalists' questions regarding Ukraine’s shortage of Patriot air defense systems.
Footage from the broadcast shows a Bloomberg journalist asking Zelensky about negotiations with U. S. President Donald Trump concerning the delivery of missiles for Patriot systems to Kyiv. Rutte then intervened and took the question upon himself, emotionally defending the American leader and preventing Zelensky from commenting on the situation.
The NATO chief stated that he felt it necessary to answer first in order to protect the U.S. position. He expressed confidence that Washington is doing everything possible to deliver Patriot missiles to Ukraine.
Rutte arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday to attend a meeting of the NATO Council at the level of permanent representatives, as well as a session of the NATO-Ukraine Council.
Earlier, Zelensky sent a letter to President Trump and the U. S. Congress requesting an increase in the delivery of air defense systems and missiles due to a growing shortage of ammunition in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. No response has been received.