Longtime Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has called on his country to continue supporting Ukraine. He called on the Netherlands to continue and support the principle of international cooperation in the organizations of which it is a part, namely the EU and NATO. These appeals were made in Rutte's last address to his countrymen as Dutch prime minister, the Associated Press reported.
In this address, Rutte described the 2014 Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 tragedy as "perhaps the most dramatic and emotionally charged event" during his tenure. The passenger plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine while traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, killing all 298 passengers and crew, including 196 Dutch nationals. In 2022, a Dutch court convicted two Russians and a pro-Russian Ukrainian of involvement in the downing of the plane.
Today, in his last address to the Dutch people, Rutte emphasized the positive qualities of his country. "There is no war here, you can be who you are, we are prosperous," he said in his 12-minute speech.
Rutte admitted that there have been moments of weakness during his tenure, including the child benefit scandal in which thousands of parents were wrongly labeled fraudsters.
Rütte added that his time as prime minister had added some "grey hairs and wrinkles" to his appearance.
After stepping down as Prime Minister, Rutte became the next Secretary General of NATO.