Rutte, Zelenskyy Reaffirm Ukraine Support Amid Conflict

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Odesa with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reaffirm NATO's unwavering support for Ukraine amidst ongoing Russian aggression. This visit followed a deadly Russian missile strike on Sumy, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced air-defense systems, including Patriot missiles, for Ukraine. During their visit, Rutte and Zelensky awarded state honors to Ukrainian service members and discussed strategies to prevent future Russian aggression. Rutte underscored NATO's commitment by highlighting over 20 billion euros in aid provided to Ukraine in early 2025 and addressed the ineffectiveness of past agreements like the 2014 Minsk accords. Meanwhile, the US's efforts to broker peace seem stalled, with Russia showing no immediate path to a ceasefire. Regional tensions remain high, as evidenced by recent attacks in both Ukraine and Russia, illustrating the ongoing volatility of the conflict.